A sponsorship to far?



Picture: From Twitter

Rutherford Raiders football team and associated with University of Kent have hit the headlines over their new sponsor.

Pornhub are the sponsors and those who have knowledge of the company can see why the university have deemed the football shirt 'totally unacceptable'. The clue is in the name ‘Porn’ with the company being one of the biggest suppliers of online porn in the world.

‘The University of Kent sports department would never sanction sponsorship of this type – it is totally inappropriate,’ said spokesman Martin Herrema.

‘The team has been spoken with and will not be allowed to wear the shirts in question at any time.

‘We take this issue very seriously and inter-college sports teams, which are the responsibility of Kent Sport, must present any potential sponsorship and/or logos for approval.’

After the bosses at Pornhub saw a mock-up of the shirt, they stepped in offering to sponsor them for real. Unsurprisingly the team take a slightly different view to the university.

‘We are struggling to see why they are having a problem,’ said one of the players. ‘The university cricket team are sponsored by Kingfisher, which is also an age-restricted product.

‘In my opinion the decision is made by people in Kent Sport that are out of touch with what’s socially acceptable.

‘It’s hard for football teams to find a sponsor. Both Kent Sport and Rutherford refused to give us any money.

‘Clearly Pornhub did because there’s was an opportunity to create a bit of attention.

‘I personally haven’t come across anyone yet that has found it anything other than funny.’

It brings into question the whole business of sports sponsorship. In my sport of football, there are some dubious sponsors linked to teams, Wonga (Newcastle United), Cash Converters (Hull City) and there are a myriad of betting firms with their logos brazened across club shirts. Maybe Ann Summers could step in and sponsor the cash strapped team.

Pornhub recently place a large advisement up on Times Square, New York but was soon forced to take it down after a number of complains.