American restaurant chain Hooters is controversial enough, what with its scantily clad and typically busty female wait staff.
And now the quick service outlet has found itself embroiled in a new hullabaloo after the UK’s only Hooters outlet decided to sponsor its local under 10s boys soccer team.
The deal between Burton Joyce FC and Hooters attracted immediate controversy on Twitter due to the American-owned bar’s reputation that many deem as “degrading” to its female employees.
Announcing its sponsorship of the Burton Joyce under 10s, Hooters sent some of its waitresses to pose for photographs with the young players.
The images came with the words, “Hooters Nottingham are proud to be the new sponsors of Burton Joyce U10s. We wish you all the luck this season, boys. Go smash it.”
The post immediately attracted the ire of social media users, with users labelling it as “creepy” and “wrong”.
Another added: “Why are Hooters sexualising kids?”
Not that everyone was opposed to idea. One fan tweeted: “This is quality! I’m having words with my sons [sic] club as to why they didn’t secure this deal!”
Another posted: “I’m guessing ALL the dads showed up for this match.”
Burton Joyce FC was founded in 1990 and has both male and female youth, senior and disability sides.
Despite its best efforts to expand the business in the UK, thus far Nottingham remains Hooters’ only UK outlet.
Following the complaints, local football authority, Nottinghamshire FA, has since stepped in and decided to ban Hooters’ move.
It said in a statement: “The County FA had not been approached by the club seeking sanction for the sponsorship and had we have been’, they said.
“The request would have been declined in accordance with FA rules appertaining to the Kit and Advertising Regulations. From being made aware of the sponsorship we have been working with the club to reinforce their understanding of the regulations surrounding such sponsorship.
“We understand the difficult climate that grassroots football operates within and urge any club seeking investment from sponsorship that they are fully aware of the regulations or contact us for clarification.”
