Different shirt

With his side losing 0-3 to Newcastle United, Leicester City debutant Jeremy Monga’s entry into the field made English Premier League history, but it was his sponsorless shirt that attracted headlines.

At 15 years and 271 days old, Monga became the second-youngest player to play in the EPL on Monday. 

Leicester took to X after the home defeat to share Monga’s EPL debut, with the England Under-16 winger wearing a sponsorless shirt:

Leicester’s home shirt is sponsored by Curaçao-headquartered crypto gaming firm BC Game, which meant the England winger would have broken UK laws had he sported the gambling sponsor’s logo. 

Fans react

According to reports, the atmosphere at Leicester’s King Power Stadium was all doom and gloom long before Harvey Barnes effectively ended the competition scoring Newcastle’s third and final goal in the 34th minute.

Rows of empty seats at the Foxes’ stadium greeted Leicester’s home match-up which, after the Newcastle defeat, means the EPL franchise could be relegated to the English League Championship as early as Easter Sunday.

Enter Monga wearing number 93 for his EPL debut with 16 minutes of regulation time left. Soccer fans later took to X with mixed feelings. While soccer coach Joe Corey stated Monga had a great debut, the majority of other responses were about his blank-fronted shirt.

I thought all kits had to be the same.”

X user @NS_1872 posed: “No sponsor on his shirt? I thought all kits had to be the same. Big fine coming the club’s way I imagine.”

@SA_1884 meanwhile attacked the franchise’s executive for Monga’s appearance in a non BC Game-sponsored shirt, stating: “Sack the board. Clowns.”

Enduring an abysmal season on the field of play, Leicester has also had to defend its sponsor at a public level after news emerged in March that BC.Game holding brands Blockdance BV and Small House BV went bankrupt.  

The Gambling Act 2005 prohibits EPL players younger than 18 from wearing gambling sponsored branding on their uniforms.

Silver linings?

Monga, whom the Guardian stated “juggles school with first-team training” can only sign his first pro soccer contract when he turns 17 in 2026.

Coach Corey believes other EPL franchises will have Monga on their radars when the transfer window opens. The teen debutant, however, shared the field with another ex-Leicester prodigy Harvey Barnes.  

According to reports, Barnes’ goal for Newcastle had Leicester fans singing their former favorite’s name.