A Facebook advertisement for gambling app Football Index has been banned by the UK’s Advertising Standards Agency for highlighting players under the age of 25.

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The paid-for ad included text stating that “Jadon Sancho is now the football stock market's third most valuable player, with many traders seeing handsome profits”. Images of other young players Raheem Sterling, Calum Hudson-Odoi, Kylian Mbappe and Marcus Rashford were also used.

A complaint, noting the ad featured players under the age of 25, was lodged challenging whether was irresponsible and in breach of the code.

In upholding the complaint, the ASA stated: “The ad must not appear again in the form complained of. We told BetIndex Ltd to ensure they did not feature those under 25 years old playing a significant role in marketing communications except for where they appeared in a place where a bet could be placed directly through a transactional facility.

“The individual may only be used to illustrate specific betting selections where that individual is the subject of the bet offered. The image or other depiction used must show them in the context of the bet and not in a gambling context.”