SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
On Thursday night, Rangers FC qualified for the 2022 Europa League final, beating match favourites RB Leipzig 3-1 on the night (3-2 on aggregate) at Ibrox to make it through to the final against Eintracht Frankfurt in Seville on May 18.
It will be the club’s first European final in 14 years, and Giovanni Van Bronckhorst’s men will be aiming to lift a European trophy for the first time in 50 years.
Neil Banbury, UK General Manager at Kindred Group commented on the result – “We are thrilled Rangers have made the 2022 Europa League final and our congratulations go to the players, staff, employees and fans of the club.
“Kindred Group, through its 32Red brand, has partnered Rangers since 2014, and it remains the longest-running partnership in British football. An important part of the partnership is the continuation of Team Talk, a men’s mental health initiative supported by 32Red, one of Kindred’s most well-known UK brands”.
“It is a hugely exciting time to be involved with the club, as this current season has shown. More widely, we remain committed to reinventing the sports sponsorship model, so that it benefits the wider community. That is why, we extended our support for the vital men’s mental health initiative – Team Talk – recently, so I am delighted to announce that Rangers players will be wearing shirts with the Team Talk logo in the final itself, where the TV audience is estimated at being close to 5 million on the night” Neil Banbury concluded.
“It’s been quite a journey this season, with so many twists and turns; and it’s been a real journey for our Kindred partnership with the club over the last decade – standing shoulder to shoulder with them during the `Scottish Division Three´ days at what was arguably their lowest point in the club’s history, to now at arguably one of their highest points in their 150th year. “
Over the past few years, Kindred Group’s UK brands have focused on an ambitious project to change the sponsorship model in sport, utilizing football’s bond with local communities to impact society positively.
The group’s ‘Team Talk’ campaign is an example of an appreciated initiative that contributes to the community by using the local club and players and managers from time to time, as a mechanism to engage with men about their mental well-being.
Flagship sportsbook brand Unibet will offer have 248 different betting markets on the final itself with 100s more to come on the day. Unibet odds compilers have made Eintracht Frankfurt favourites to lift the trophy at 7/10 with Rangers at 6/5, while the 90 minutes betting see Rangers at a huge looking 9/4.
