The European Commission has issued warnings to Belgium, France and Italy over action against their cycling teams because of connections to betting, according to a spokesman and others. The Commission expressed concern that Belgium was banning cycling teams because they are sponsored by online betting company Unibet. Unibet is based in Malta.
"The Commission would like to draw attention to Belgium (for) violating the freedom to provide services," spokesman Oliver Drewes said. The Commission is also considering similar action against Italy, he said.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Charlie McCreevy had earlier warned France over the same issue, and a Commission official told Reuters that Brussels would step up legal action against the French government in June over its enforcement of anti-betting laws governing cycling and all other sports.