Member Article

Newcastle United removing Wonga from replica shirts a hollow victory for opposition

A recent campaign to have payday loan lender Wonga removed from junior Newcastle United shirts has been successful, although it is questionable how much of a victory the decision really is for Wonga critics.

The campaign was spearheaded by Newcastle MPs, Catherine McKinnell and Chi Onwurah, who wanted payday lenders such as Wonga to be looked upon in a similar light to companies selling alcohol. Namely, that such sponsors should be deemed unsuitable for children to champion.

The Wonga logo will now only appear on adult NUFC shirts, as of the 16/17 season, as Wonga accepted that it was irresponsible to advertise payday loan lending on children’s shirts.

Wonga issued a statement saying: “It has been agreed with Newcastle United to remove the Wonga logo from all children’s replica shirts and training wear from the earliest possible opportunity which, due to kit production schedules, will be from the commencement of the 2016/17 Season.

“This follows Wonga Chairman Andy Haste’s commitment, on his appointment in July, to review all the company’s marketing to ensure that none of it could inadvertently appeal to the very young or vulnerable. Wonga has already ended its ‘puppets’ advertising campaign.”

Wonga partnered with the club and became its official shirt sponsor at the beginning of the 12/13 season, in what was reported as an £8 million a year deal, set to last over four years.

Football remains the working man’s sport. There is a tragic irony seeing those, en masse, seemingly advocate a company who have manifested from the needs and often the desperation of society’s working man.

Newcastle Central MP Chi Onwurah, spoke of what seeing the sponsor meant to her: “My heart sinks every match day when I see kids proudly sporting their Wonga shirts, normalising and, indeed, celebrating 5,000% interest rates and debt as a way of life.

“Perhaps now that the new chairman Andy Haste has said he wants to avoid targeting the ‘vulnerable and the young’ they will finally keep the logo off children’s kits?”

Certainly, on the surface, having the logo removed from children’s shirts is a positive move. It is, of course, a responsible action to distance football’s most vulnerable from potentially damaging sources.

However, in what may initially be viewed as a victory for those opposing Wonga, the decision may not be such a win afterall. The club will still be affiliated with and celebrate the sponsor, the logo will remain on adult shirts indefinitely and due to ‘production schedules’ the removal will not take place for another two seasons. In reality, little has changed.

In fact, the club itself seems apathetic. Newcastle United Managing Director Lee Charnley made the briefest of comments, saying: “We understand and respect Wonga’s position and are happy to support their decision.”

Newcastle United did not make the decision and nor do they seem to want to draw anymore attention to it than they have to.

Perhaps for the most ardent Wonga opponents to be truly satisfied the club itself would have to take far more of an active role and cut ties altogether. However, as history so accurately teaches us, money talks in the business of sport.