Werder Bremen trying to overturn sponsorship ban

A complaint has been filed with Germany's constitutional court by Bundesliga leaders Werder Bremen, to overturn a ban on displaying the name of their main sponsor on the club's shirts.

An Austrian internet betting firm, bwin, is currently fighting a ban imposed by three German federal states on commercial betting, as Germany's regions seek to maintain their lucrative monopoly over the market.

Saxony said last week it would appeal a court ruling that said bwin, whose German unit is the nation's biggest commercial bookmaker, could continue to offer bets for the time being.

Bremen's government banned the promotion of commercial betting firms last July.

"It is in the interest of our partners that this question is finally resolved. We fully support Werder Bremen," bwin e.K . said on Werder's website.

bwin said it would cut its budget for German football sponsorship next year because of the regional attempts to outlaw commercial sports betting. This would not affect its deal with Werder Bremen, it said.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.