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Muslim Rugby Star Sonny Bill Williams Refuses to Wear Betting Sponsor’s Logo
Monday 27 January 2020, by
The famous rugby player, Sonny Bill Williams, who converted to Islam, has expressed his refusal, motivated by his religious beliefs, to wear the logo of the Betfred sponsor, a sports betting company.
"We are in discussion with the Super League on this matter, but Sonny has been very clear in his position," Toronto Wolfpack president Bob Hunter told the Daily Telegraph. According to him, it would be a good thing for the sponsor to respect and honor the player’s religious beliefs. "[...] The sponsor could say yes, OK, we understand. It’s a big brand and a famous name, but we understand," he added.
Converted to Islam in 2009, the 34-year-old New Zealand athlete has chosen not to associate with any company, any organization that promotes anti-Muslim values.
This is not the first time that Sonny Bill Williams has taken this stance. In 2017, he had concealed the logo of the Bank of New Zealand (BNZ) on his Auckland Blues jersey, the same source said. This act was justified by a "conscientious objection" clause in his contract. This clause stipulates that the player can refuse to wear the logos of banks, alcohol brands or gambling sponsors.