Portugal's soccer premiership has agreed to be sponsored by an Austrian online betting company, sparking a protest just ahead of the season's launch yesterday.

BETandWIN.Com Interactive Entertainment signed an agreement to sponsor the Portuguese Professional Football League on Thursday, replacing state energy company Galpenergia.

BETandWIN will sponsor the 18-team premiership for four seasons.

The deal's legality was quickly questioned by the Casinos Association and by the Holy House of Mercy, a charity which holds the state monopoly for lotteries and pari-mutuel betting.

Only gambling overseen by the Holy House could be advertised in Portugal and it held exclusive rights for electronic lotteries, the charity said in a statement.

"Given what has been announced, the gambling department of the Holy House of Mercy of Lisbon will act in according to the law in defence of the interests of the state," it said.

Valentim Loureiro, president of the clubs' league, said the sponsorship had been discussed with lawyers before the signing.

BETandWIN has partnerships with several sporting organisations, including Barcelona and Juventus, and is a sponsor of the national sides of Hungary and Germany, among others, the company said.

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