“Big food” and football—a troubling alliance

Abstract

Coca-Cola’s sponsorship of major sports tournaments has long raised eyebrows.1 The relationship between sport and junk food corporations continues to warrant scrutiny, not just on the global stage, but also here in the UK. For two decades, McDonald’s was a key sponsor of grassroots football through partnership with the Football Association (FA) in the UK.2 Even after their official sponsorship ended in 2022, McDonald’s …