Brighton & Hove Albion have banned reporters and photographers from The Guardian from attending matches at the Amex Stadium, following the newspaper's reports on allegations concerning the club's owner, Tony Bloom. The ban was effective as of Sunday's game against West Ham.
The Guardian's recent reporting raised questions from Members of Parliament regarding Bloom's activities, particularly his involvement in gambling. One report revealed a lawsuit alleging Bloom's gambling syndicate, known as Starlizard Betting Syndicate, used "frontmen" to place bets on sports events. The report cited High Court documents that named George Cottrell, a close associate of Reform party leader Nigel Farage, as one individual who acted as a front for the syndicate. The lawsuit involves a dispute between Bloom and Ryan Dudfield, a former associate who claims he is owed a share of gambling profits. The documents allege the syndicate generates approximately £600 million annually in winnings. As of the report, Bloom had not yet filed a defense to the lawsuit and did not respond to the Guardian's questions. Lawyers for Cottrell were also approached for comment.
A subsequent Guardian story focused on allegations that Bloom could be the anonymous gambler behind $70 million in winnings, potentially including bets on his own football teams. Bloom denied these specific allegations through a source, stating that he has never bet on his own teams or competitions involving them, calling any such claims "entirely false".
Following the publication of the Guardian's story, Brighton FC issued a public statement on Bloom's behalf. In the statement, Bloom assured supporters that he has not placed bets on any Brighton & Hove Albion matches since becoming the club's owner in 2009. Bloom's statement referenced the FA's 2014 policy with provisions for owners of football clubs with interests in betting, which allows him to continue betting on football under strict conditions. He emphasized that the policy prevents him from betting on any match or competition involving Brighton & Hove Albion. Bloom asserted that he has fully complied with these conditions since 2014, and his bets on football are audited annually by a leading accounting firm to ensure compliance with the FA's policy. Bloom's lawyers have contacted The Guardian directly to clarify his position. Brighton FC is also in contact with both The Football Association and The Premier League regarding this matter.
Bloom runs a £600m-valued sports betting consultancy called Starlizard.
