Ladbrokes apologise after Burnley tweet controversy

Ladbrokes have apologised to Burnley FC, whose stand they sponsor as the club's 'official UK betting partner', after tweeting an offensive image at two of the Premier League club's players in the wake of their defeat to Leeds United in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday.

After Burnley were toppled 5-3 on penalties by Leeds, the official Ladbrokes account (@Ladbrokes) tweeted a raised middle finger at two former Leeds players in the Burnley line-up, Chris Wood and Charlie Taylor, followed by: "Yours sincerely, Leeds fans #LUFC".

Wood, who like Taylor switched from Elland Road to Turf Moor over the summer and was on the receiving end of jeers from the away support at the match, had scored an 89th-minute penalty to equalise before two injury-time goals led to the shootout, in which he also converted.

After Burnley made clear their dissatisfaction with the tweet, Ladbrokes released a statement: "They were poorly conceived tweets which we have since deleted. It was only intended to be a bit of fun but failed completely in that regard, and we have apologised to Burnley FC and would like to sincerely apologise to any fans of the club who took offence."

The three-year deal between Ladbrokes and Burnley, which includes sponsorship of Turf Moor's Cricket Field away stand, was signed only in the middle of August, shortly after the beginning of the Premier League season.

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