The Premier League has asked its clubs to support phasing out gambling companies sponsoring shirts.

Premier League chiefs are understood to have made the request in a bid to avert the threat of a Government-enforced ban.

Half of the Premier League’s 20 teams have betting firms on their shirts, with the government set to update gambling laws next month. The Premier League has previously said that “a self-regulatory approach would provide a practical and flexible alternative to legislation or outright prohibition.”

The government has said it will publish a White Paper on gambling reform in the coming weeks.

The EFL, which is sponsored by Sky Bet, says a gambling sponsorship ban would cost clubs £40m a year. Sky News reported earlier this week that ministers had dropped plans to legislate to ban betting groups’ names appearing on football shirts, and were instead seeking a voluntary agreement with clubs.