Thou Shalt Not Have 18 Mistresses

Not just Tiger Woods, even Indian sportsmen have a morality clause in their contracts with sponsors

The official Tiger Woods website still lists Accenture, Tag Heuer and Gillette as sponsors. In truth, the three companies have quit airing ads featuring him. More could follow. Unless it emerges that his wife Elin Nordegren too had 18 boyfriends and Tiger gets an automatic pardon.

But sportsmen being yanked off advertisements because of infidelity is not just the prerogative of the West. Even in India, contracts with sponsors have a morality clause, though it might not always be called that. If the sportsman is going to flout it, which in most cases he does, he is at least expected to be careful.

Latika Khaneja, director, Collage Sports Marketing, says, “Every contract has a code of conduct, but it is worded differently. Companies are very clear that in the event of public ridicule, they reserve the right to end the contract.”

In India, that clause is yet to be used despite adultery spilling onto the news pages. In the early 90s, there was Azharuddin’s affair with starlet Sangeeta Bijlani (whom he subsequently married). And not too long ago, Sourav Ganguly was linked with actress Nagma. When corporations know that stars lead colourful lives, what is it that they really expect from their client?

“They should not be tabloid front page news,” says Khaneja.

Another sports manager says, “Companies know top athletes are somewhat adulterous… It is not an absolute no-no like drugs, violence or corruption. But when it gets messy and public, they are liable to end the contract.” Khaneja says, “When a company senses their client’s actions have outraged people, they take action.”

The process to end a partnership can be simple or convoluted.  The athlete may or may not be paid a termination sum. “If it is a clear breach of contract, all it takes is one letter to end the association,” says Khaneja. “Most times the corporation ends up losing money because the athlete has been “paid an initial fee in advance.”

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