The European Commission has issued warnings to Belgium, France and Italy over action against the Unibet cycling team because of its connections to betting, according to a spokesman and others.

Wednesday’s announcement by the EU executive arm is the latest twist in a battle between the sport’s governing body – the International Cycling Union (UCI) – and the organisers of showpiece events such as the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia.

The Commission expressed concern that Swedish cycling team Unibet.com was being prevented from competing in Belgium because it is sponsored by a Malta-based online betting company.

“The Commission understands that the Green Cycle Associates cycling team, a Swedish company, has been refused entry to two races in the Belgian UCI,” a letter obtained by Reuters said.

The Commission said it was asking Belgium how these provisions were in line with free movement of services in the EU and the banning of a company and a team that are legally established in the bloc.

Race organisers ASO did not invite the Unibet team to compete in the Fleche Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege one-day events last month citing a Belgian law that prohibits online betting companies of advertising in the country.

The EU’s internal market chief is also considering similar action against Italy, the Commission said after Unibet were denied access to this year’s Giro d’Italia.

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.