FA ban tattoo parlour and nightclub from inking their names on kids’ football team shirts
Kings Heath Concorde, club that produced England stars Darius Vassell and Joleon Lescott, are victims of 'double standards'
THE Football Association has banned a tattoo parlour from sponsoring a local kids' football team.
Kings Heath Concorde under 10s could fold because of it, while their Under 8s could also go because their sponsor, Arena nightspot in Stourbridge, are also considered "inappropriate" backers.
Said Warstone Body Art studio tattoo artist Simon Mabbott: “What next?
“Are they going to ban Premier League footballers who have tattoos? Because that would be pretty much all of them.
"We have been told by the FA we can no longer sponsor the Under 10s football team at Kings Heath Concorde.
"This is because they deem us to be inappropriate for children even though the FA does let other tattoo studios across country support teams in their community at varying ages.
"It wouldn't be a problem for us not to have our names on their shirts - we would still carry on sponsoring them - but it is the double standards of the FA that has aggrieved us."
Apparently, FA executives considered it wrong for schoolchildren to advertise the inking business, despite most Premier League players sporting arms full of tattoos.
Now Kings Heath Concorde Under 10s, formed only this season, faces closure because they cannot afford £500 for new kit.
It was only the sponsorship of Warstone Body Art that made playing possible in the first place.
Meanwhile, the Under-8s have also been told to ditch their sponsors for the same reason.
A spokesman for Arena described the ban as ‘bonkers’, saying: “We are not just a nightclub, we have two function rooms.
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“Are the FA worried that the Under-8s and their mates are going to try to get into the place?”
Concorde, who's Under-10s and Under-8s play in the Central Warwickshire Youth League, spawned England stars Darius Vassell and Joleon Lescott.
Concorde chief Russell Jukes, who has ploughed £2,000 of his own cash into the club, has accused the FA of double standards.
“There is nothing to stop fast food chains sponsoring junior football,” he said.
“Surely, with all the publicity about obese children, that kind of advertising is more harmful? These days, every professional player has tattoos, and children watch them on television all the time.
"We just want to keep kids off the streets, out of trouble and keeping fit. But they have banned us until we change the kits, which, quite simply, we cannot afford to do.
“I’ve asked all the kids what’s on the front of their shirts and none of them know, so they’re hardly being influenced by the logo. I’m fuming that something as trivial as this has stopped my kids from playing.”
He added: “It’s unlikely we’ll get new sponsors. I personally sent out 50 letters to local firms and got no response from any of them.”
Birmingham FA has stressed its hands are tied. Said Kevin Shoemake, chief executive officer:
“We are very sympathetic of our clubs and conscious of the efforts they go to. But there are certain rules and regulations. Our hands are tied.
“We would encourage any youth team considering a sponsorship deal, if they have any doubts, to contact us."