Man City are latest to go crypto with launch of Socios.com fan token
March 19 – Manchester City have become the first of the Premier League’s big six clubs to embrace the blockchain-based Socios.com fan token platform.
Football Marketing
AFC expands broadcast footprint with TV Start in Russia and CIS
March 16 – The AFC is continuing to advance its global footprint with the addition of a new broadcaster in Europe for its national team and club competitions.
French league hopes court win against Canal+ will put TV rights re-sale back on track
March 15 – France’s Professional Football League (LFP) has won a legal battle against Canal+ with a French commercial court ruling that the LFP was within its rights to tender only the TV rights abandoned by Mediapro following the collapse of the rights deal with the Spanish-sino agency.
Derbystar renews ball deal early for another four years of Bundesliga
March 15 – Germany’s DFL has renewed its official ball deal with Derbystar for a further four years, concluding the agreement a year before the current deal expires and taking the partnership through to the end of the 2025-26 season.
Tipico go all-in with Bayern sponsorship renewal to 2025
March 12 – Bayern Munich have extended their partnership with sports betting firm Tipico until 2025.
LaLiga teams with Panini for limited edition, blockchain based tradeable cards
March 10 – LaLiga is using blockchain technologies via its partner Panini in the US to securely enter the online card trading business.
Facebook shuns renewal bids for Champions League and La Liga broadcast rights
March 5 – Social media giant Facebook has not renewed its contract to stream the Champions League in Latin America and Spain’s La Liga in India.
Belgian top tier league turns to streaming platforms to drive distribution
March 5 – Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League (JPL) has turned to streaming platforms to expand its international broadcast footprint in a deal brokered by Mediarpro.
Man Utd’s new Chinese-owned African TV partner in court for non-payment
By Andrew Warshaw
March 3 – The Chinese company appointed by Manchester United to broadcast its matches in some 30 African countries is alleged to owe millions of dollars to a range of stakeholders across the globe.
Inter to tread new path as Pirelli end 27-year shirt sponsorship
March 3 – Serie A leaders Inter Milan are to end their shirt sponsorship deal with tyre makers Pirelli, one of the most iconic partnerships in European football.
Court forces Fenerbahce to change channel over ‘abusive’ use of beFAIR logo
March 3 – Turkish Super Lig broadcaster beIN Sport has won an injunction against one of the league’s leading clubs to stop it breaching its intellectual property, preventing use of a beFAIR logo that has been used on club t-shirts, training bibs, LED stadium banners and even on 3D carpets on the pitch.
Fonbet adds PSG to betting partnership portfolio
March 3 – Russian online bookmaker Fonbet has signed a long-term partnership with French giants Paris Saint-Germain to become the club’s official betting partner across Russia and the CIS region.
New Balance extends Ligue 1 table toppers Lille’s kit sponsorship
March 2 – US sportswear brand New Balance has extended its current sponsorship agreement with France’s Ligue 1 leaders LOSC LILLE.
Spurs partner with VivoPower in drive to become carbon neutral
February 25 – It isn’t quite the coffee-ground eco shirt of Forest Green Rovers, but Premier League Tottenham Hotspur have announced a new partnership with a London battery technology company as part of the club’s plans to become carbon neutral.
Forest Green Rovers owner tells football world to wake up and smell the coffee
February 24 – Forest Green Rovers, the English fourth-tier club that is powered by renewable energy, serves vegan food to players, staff and fans and prides itself on being the “greenest” club in the world, have launched a new team shirt partly made of coffee waste.