SportPesa nets Football Association of Ireland deal

Online betting operator SportPesa has signed a two-year partnership with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI).

SportPesa, which is licensed in the Republic of Ireland, will now serve as a commercial partner of the FAI, the national governing body for football in the country.

As part of the arrangement, SportPesa will work with the FAI on a corporate social responsibility programme.

“This is an incredibly exciting time for football in Ireland with the country set to host some key matches during next year’s European Championships,” SportPesa's head of marketing, Shaun Simmonds, said.

“As with our other partnerships in sport – we are looking forward to playing a key role in the FAI’s ongoing CSR, programmes and initiatives.”

FAI commercial director Mark Russell added: “The strength of the game in Ireland is reflected in the range of high quality brands which have invested in football and who see football as their preferred sport.”

SportPesa is also currently partnered with League of Ireland Premier Division football club Cork City, as well as English Premier League teams Arsenal, Everton and Southampton. The operator serves as the main front-of-shirt sponsor for Everton in a deal that is reportedly worth £9.6m (€11.2m/$12.7m) per year. The value of the FAI deal was not disclosed.

Away from football, SportPesa last month became the first betting operator to enter into a title sponsorship agreement with a Formula One motor-racing team after striking a deal with Racing Point Force India.