GAMBLING firms should be banned from football shirt sponsorship deals, Labour has said.

With 25 of the 92 league clubs — including Bolton Wanderers — currently engaged in such sponsoring, shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport secretary Tom Watson said it was time to take action.

Expressing concern at a rise in problem gambling, Mr Watson insisted it was wrong for young fans to be exposed to the logos of betting firms on football shirts.

Mr Watson said clubs should take the lead from the Football Association as it ended its commercial agreement with Ladbrokes in June after deciding it was not appropriate for it to partner with a gambling company.

Wanderers confirmed a lucrative two-year sponsorship deal with BetFred in July, replacing previous sponsors Spin and Win.