Tottenham and Liverpool have been slammed after announcing new commercial deals with Coca-Cola, with leading health experts calling on cubs to 'sever ties' with junk food companies.
On Thursday the Premier League clubs, along with Bayern Munich, Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain agreed a new sponsorship arrangement with Coca-Cola as the drinks brand aims to grow it's football portfolio.
The clubs join FIFA and The FA in having commercial deals with the sugary drinks company and the arrangements have caused further concern from health professionals, who warn of the impact it can have on children's health.
Professor David Strain, the British Medical Association's (BMA) board of science chair is calling for a crackdown on advertising of junk food in the sport.
'The UK is in the grip of an obesity epidemic, which is having a devastating impact on people's health and lives, as well as on public services and the economy,' He said.
'It is absurd that some of the very food and drink that contribute so keenly to the obesity crisis have been closely linked with sports through commercial deals for so long.
'Specifically, given the influence that advertising can have on children, and the way they look up to their favourite sports teams and personalities, such sponsorship deals can have a really damaging effect.
'The BMA has long called for a crackdown on junk food advertising in sport, and this is even more vital now that the new Government seems to be rolling back on its previous pledges to tackle obesity levels. It's high time these ties are severed for good.'
It's a view shared by fellow health professionals, including Katharine Jenner, director at the Obesity Health Alliance who told Telegraph Sport: 'Using sports sponsorship as a marketing tactic to sell sugary drinks is particularly problematic for child health. Kids all over the country avidly follow their favourite teams, investing in everything associated with their team, including – as research suggests – the brands behind the sponsorship deals.'
Coca-Cola already has a longstanding of sponsorship in football, including attaching their name to the League Cup in the mid-nineties and the Football League from 2004-2010.
In statement, the drinks company says it has always had a direct marketing policy to not advertise to children under 16 years old, but added that this new campaign will see it's Coca-Cola Zero Sugar prioritised across all channels.
Leftwinger
10
Each of us has a responsibility on our health, they don’t force people to drink coke. People make a choice to drink so I don’t see any issue here