Sir Jim Ratcliffe Makes Late Bid To Buy Chelsea FC

Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, has made a formal bid for Chelsea FC, for £4.25bn. £2.5bn is committed to the Charitable Trust to support victims of the war, with £1.75bn committed to investment directly into the club over the next 10 years.

This is an eleventh hour bid from the INEOS leader, who had previously spoken of bidding for the club in the past as a Chelsea fan, however he has now entered play long after the initial deadline.

It will be interesting to see whether the bid is considered by Raine Group, the company currently undertaking the selection process of the remaining two bids for the club, as it is far beyond their deadline.

A statement made on the businessman’s INEOS website said:

This is a British bid, for a British club. 

We believe that a club is bigger than its owners who are temporary custodians of a great tradition. With responsibility to the fans and the community.

That is why we are committing to spending £1.75bn over 10 years that will be for the direct benefit of the club.

We will invest in Stamford Bridge to make it a world-class stadium, befitting of Chelsea FC. This will be organic and on-going so that we will not move away from the home of Chelsea and risk losing the support of loyal fans.

We will continue to invest in the team to ensure we have a first class squad of the world’s greatest players, coaches and support staff, in the men’s and women’s games.

And we hope to continue to invest in the academy to provide opportunity for talented youngsters to develop into first class players.

We believe that London should have a club that reflects the stature of the city. One that is held in the same regard as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. We intend Chelsea to be that club.

We are making this investment as fans of the beautiful game – not as a means to turn a profit. We do that with our core businesses. The club is rooted in its community and its fans. And it is our intention to invest in Chelsea FC for that reason.

No further comment will be made from Sir Jim or INEOS during the bidding process.

Cricket South Africa And SuperSport Announce New T20 Competition Starting In January 2023

Cricket South Africa and SuperSport have signed an agreement to form a new company that will manage a dynamic new T20 competition.

Plans for the competition are well under way with the first ball to be bowled in January 2023. January will then become the window for the league which will comprise of six privately owned franchises playing each other in a double round before the top three sides move to the play-off stages.

“We are excited by the formation of something this fresh and invigorating, which also offers the opportunity for private investment into the franchises,” said Pholetsi Moseki, CSA CEO. “CSA has already received interest from a number of potential local and international investors.”

Moseki emphasised that this is an entirely new event, adding that South Africa has a rich crop of talent who would benefit from exposure through a franchise league. He said that a sustainable business model had been created for both the league and the teams, with a healthy salary bill to attract the very best local and international players.

The league also represents a fresh injection of funds into the sport in SA which will help grow the game. Modelled along the lines of T20 events worldwide, the focus will be on all-action cricket sportainment.

Said Marc Jury, SuperSport CEO: “We are delighted to invest in a product that will change the face of South African cricket. There is an early-year gap in the calendar, so the timing is ideal.”

SuperSport has committed to live broadcast of all the matches and will also produce the world feed for the international television market.

Roland-Garros And Renault Team Up To Move The Lines

The French Tennis Federation and Renault are delighted to officially announce the signing of a five-year partnership agreement that will see the French carmaker become a Premium Partner of Roland-Garros from 2022 through to 2026.

This year’s Roland-Garros tournament, which runs from 16 May to 5 June, will mark the start of a new era in which the Parisian Grand Slam and French car manufacturer Renault will come together around shared values such as style and boldness.

Roland-Garros and Renault are both committed to pursuing an increasingly environmentally responsible path. Sustainable mobility is an issue that the two brands hold dear, with Renault having already embarked on a process of transformation that will lead to it becoming an all-electric brand in Europe by 2030.

A fleet of eco-friendly vehicles

As part of the agreement, Renault will make a total of 160 vehicles available to the tournament, including a fleet of 100 new Renault Megane E-Tech Electric cars.

Ground-breaking branding

In a first for the tournament, the new partnership will also see the Renault logo emblazoned on the nets at the Stade Roland-Garros’ five main courts: Philippe-Chatrier, Suzanne-Lenglen, Simonne-Mathieu, and courts 7 and 14.

Innovation on show all tournament long

Renault will have a stand open at the Stade Roland-Garros throughout the tournament. Boasting a floorspace of 150m2, the stand will introduce spectators to its electric and hybrid range. On show will be the Renault Megane E-Tech Electric, the Renault 5 Prototype and the all-new Renault Austral, which will be unveiled to the world at Roland-Garros. The carmaker will also be laying on exciting new experiences for visitors to the stand.

“We are thrilled with this Premium partnership, which was an obvious step for two French brands with a strong international dimension,” said FFT President Gilles Moretton. “It’s an ambitious partnership and we’re both committed to shaking things up and achieving our sustainable mobility goals in the very near future. Renault is also planning to extend the partnership beyond RolandGarros, which gives us great cause for satisfaction.”

Formula E And FIA Reveal All-Electric Gen3 Race Car In Monaco

  • All-electric Gen3 race car revealed to public for the first time at the Yacht Club de Monaco ahead of this weekend’s Monaco E-Prix, a highlight of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season
  • Disruptive design inspired by the aerodynamic form of a fighter jet
  • The fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built
  • Specifically designed for wheel-to-wheel racing on high-speed street circuits
  • Performance upgrades installed via software updates into the Gen3 advanced operating system
  • The world’s first net zero carbon race car in the world’s first net zero carbon sport
  • Debuts in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

The future of all-electric high-performance motorsport has been revealed by Formula E and the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) at the Yacht Club de Monaco where the third-generation Formula E race car was officially unveiled to the public.

The Gen3 is the world’s first race car designed and optimised specifically for street racing. It will debut in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, where some of the world’s greatest manufacturers race wheel-to-wheel on the streets of iconic global cities.

Developed by engineers and sustainability experts at the FIA and Formula E, the Gen3 is the pinnacle of high performance, efficiency and sustainability. Designed to show the world that high performance and sustainability can powerfully co-exist without compromise, the Gen3 pioneers cutting-edge technologies that will make the transfer from race to road.

While aerodynamic development programs have been central to driving incremental improvement in motorsport for decades, the launch of the Gen3 propels software engineering forwards as a new battleground for motorsport innovation and competition. Performance upgrades to the Gen3 will be delivered as software updates directly to the advanced operating system built into the car.

Seven of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers have registered with the FIA to race the new Gen3 in Season 9 of the ABB FIA World Championship with pre-season testing this winter. They are: DS Automobiles (France); Jaguar (UK); Mahindra Racing (India); Maserati (Italy); NIO 333 (UK / China); Nissan (Japan); Porsche (Germany).

Design, engineering and production innovations for the Gen3 race car include:

Performance:

  • Fastest Formula E car yet with a top speed over 322 kph / 200 mph.
  • Most efficient formula racing car ever with more than 40% of the energy used within a race produced by regenerative braking.
  • Around 95% power efficiency from an electric motor delivering up to 350kW of power (470BHP), compared to approximately 40% for an internal combustion engine.
  • First-ever formula car with both front and rear powertrains. A new front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a total of 600kW.
  • Ultra-high speed charging capability of 600kW for additional energy during a race, almost double the power of the most advanced commercial chargers in the world.
  • The first formula car that will not feature rear hydraulic brakes with the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.

Every aspect of Gen3 production has been rethought, redesigned and rebuilt to ensure the car sets the benchmark for high-performance, sustainable racing without compromise. For example, natural materials have been introduced to tyres, batteries and bodywork construction with life cycle thinking at the core.

Sustainability:

  • Gen3 batteries are among the most advanced, sustainable batteries ever made consisting of sustainably-sourced minerals while battery cells will be reused and recycled at end of life.
  • Linen and recycled carbon fibre will be used in bodywork construction for the first time in a formula car featuring recycled carbon fibre from retired Gen2 cars and reducing the overall amount of virgin carbon fibre used. This will reduce the carbon footprint of the production of the Gen3 bodywork more than 10%. All waste carbon fibre will be reused for new applications through adoption of an innovative process from the aviation industry.
  • Natural rubber and recycled fibres will make up 26% of new Gen3 tyres and all tyres will be fully recycled after racing.
  • The carbon footprint of the Gen3 has been measured from the design phase to inform all reduction measures taken to reduce environmental impact, while all unavoidable emissions will be offset as part of Formula E’s net zero carbon commitment.
  • All Gen3 suppliers will operate in line with top international standards to reduce environmental impacts of manufacturing (ISO 14001) and be FIA Environmental Accreditation 3-Star rated.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President said:

“Both technologically and environmentally, Gen3 sets new standards in the sport. The FIA and Formula E development teams have done a superb job, and I thank them for their hard work on this project. I am delighted to see so many leading manufacturers already signed up to the championship’s next era and await Gen3’s competitive debut in Season 9 with great anticipation.”

Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer, Formula E said:

“Monaco is the spiritual home of motorsport and there is nowhere more fitting to unveil our Gen3 race car. The Gen3 disrupts and challenges the conventions of motorsport, setting the benchmark for performance, efficiency and sustainability without compromise.

“Together with the FIA, we are proud to reveal the Gen3 to Formula E fans and demonstrate to the wider sports industry how elite sport, high performance and sustainability can successfully co-exist in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. We cannot wait to see how our teams and drivers push the car to its limit in 2023.”

Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman, Formula E said:

“The Gen3 represents the ambitious third age of Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. With every generation of race car we push the boundaries of possibility in EV technology further and the Gen3 is our most ambitious project to date. The eyes of the world are on the Principality for the Monaco E-Prix and we are proud to reveal a car that been two years in the making in the historic home of motorsport. My thanks go to the great team behind it at Formula E and the FIA – the future of all electric racing is bright.”

Reims And British Olympic Association Reach Agreement For Team GB To Prepare In The City In Lead Up To Paris 2024 Olympic Games

The city of Reims and the British Olympic Association [BOA] have agreed a partnership that will see Team GB athletes train, prepare and acclimatise in the French city in the run up to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

An official reception took place today with BOA Chair, Sir Hugh Robertson, BOA Chief Executive Officer Andy Anson and Mayor of Reims, Arnaud Robinet all in attendance. The agreement includes a commitment by all parties to create a programme for exchanging cultural experiences and expertise to help ensure a lasting legacy of international sporting presence for the region.

Two-time Olympic trampoline medalist, Bryony Page, also joined the Team GB delegation in Reims and was able to visit the trampoline hall where she will hope to train as she vies to compete in her third Olympic Games in Paris.

The reception took place at the City Hall following a tour of UCPA Sport Station Grand Reims where Team GB’s swimmers will be based, as well as a visit to the boxing and gymnastics facilities at the Complexe René Tys.

Ideally located just a short journey away from the Olympic Village in Saint-Denis in Paris, the training facilities in Reims will provide world-leading venues for some of Britain’s brightest hopes to hone their talents in the immediate run-up to the Games.

Arnaud Robinet, Mayor of Reims, said: “Labelled the Terre de Jeux 2024, the city of Reims has seen eight of its sporting venues selected as preparation camps for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Looking past the undeniable quality of these venues, Reims stands out because of its quality of city and quality of life, which offers athletes the perfect environment to train and unwind. It is these qualities that have enabled our city to attract one of the greatest Olympic nations in the world. We are both proud and delighted to welcome Team GB swimmers, gymnasts and boxers to the Complexe René Tys and the UCPA Sport Station, Grand Reims.”

Sir Hugh Robertson said: “We are delighted to be here in Reims to announce this important element of our Preparation Camp plans for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

“The support we’ve had from the city has been outstanding, and we are confident that this is a partnership that will be mutually beneficially for both Reims and Team GB.”

Andy Anson added: “We have seen from the past two summer Games the fundamental importance of securing world-class training venues for our athletes, who feedback consistently on the positive impact of these facilities on their performances.

“The facilities we have secured in Reims for our swimming, boxing and gymnastics teams will play their part in ensuring those sports are highly competitive at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.”

The Reims partnership is the second such agreement in as many days for Team GB, having previously announced plans for athletics, football, rugby and hockey to be based at Saint-Germain-en-Laye for their final preparations.

Channel 4 Wins Rights To England’s European Qualifiers And UEFA Nations League Matches

  • All England matches live on free to air television until 2024 as a result of Channel 4 deal
  • Six England UEFA Nations League matches to be shown live on Channel 4 this year
  • Live matches on Channel 4 include England’s clashes with Germany and current UEFA European Champions Italy
  • England’s European Qualifier games to be shown on Channel 4 in 2023
  • 20 England matches live on Channel 4 between 2022 to 2024

England’s matches in the UEFA Nations League, European Qualifiers to UEFA EURO 2024 and International Friendlies will be shown live on Channel 4.

Six England games will be shown live on Channel 4 this year starting with their match against Hungary on 4th June, followed three days later with their away match against Germany on 7th June. Gareth Southgate’s men then look to avenge their UEFA EURO final defeat against Italy when they take on the reigning UEFA EURO champions at Molineux on 11th June. This will be the first time that live coverage of the men’s national team will have featured on Channel 4.

The deal struck by Channel 4’s sports team means that all England matches will be shown live on free to air television until 2024. And it will be the first time England UEFA Nations League games will be on free to air television. In total Channel 4 will broadcast 20 live England matches between 2022 to 2024.

Channel 4 CEO Alex Mahon said: “As a life-long committed football fan I am personally so delighted that we have these matches on the channel which further reinforce our reputation as a top quality sport broadcaster having been named Sports Network of the Year at this year’s British Sports Journalism Awards.”

Channel 4’s Chief Content Officer Ian Katz said: “After bringing some of the biggest sporting moments of last year to the nation, I’m delighted that Channel 4 will be airing so many mouth-watering England matches on free to air television.

“This deal shows Channel 4 can compete for some of the biggest properties in sport and will bring substantial new audiences to our award-winning slate of original programming.”

Channel 4 was named Sports Network of the Year at the British Sports Journalism Awards after delivering a host of free to air first class live sporting events to the nation throughout 2021, including Emma Raducanu’s stunning US Open Grand Slam win. It also struck a deal to show live coverage of the winner takes all F1 finale in Abu Dhabi which saw Max Verstappen beat Lewis Hamilton and drew 4.4 million viewers.

Other major live sports coverage on Channel 4 have also included: the British & Irish Lions; England’s Test tour of India; Ireland rugby union internationals; and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games which attracted 20 million viewers. More recently the broadcaster aired more than 80 hours coverage of the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Game and struck deals to show live Betfred Super League rugby and Formula E.

Channel 4’s Head of Sport Pete Andrews said: “England matches against Germany are always an exciting prospect and I’m sure the team will be keen to set the record straight against Italy after the defeat in the final of the UEFA EURO.

“We’re absolutely delighted to have secured this deal with UEFA and I’m sure England fans will be looking forward to the summer with great anticipation.”

The full details of England’s UEFA Nations League matches to be shown live on Channel 4 are:

4th June – Hungary vs England

7th June – Germany vs England

11th June – England vs Italy

14th June – England vs Hungary

23rd September – Italy vs England

26th September – England vs Germany.

The matches in the UEFA European Qualifiers in 2023 are yet to be determined, with the Draw scheduled on October 9, 2022

* England’s World Cup matches will be shown by other free to air broadcasters.

Scottish PR Agency Frame Appointed To 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships Role

Leading Scottish creative communications firm, Frame, has been appointed to support the world’s biggest-ever cycling event following a successful tender process for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships.

The Glasgow-based agency will provide PR and content production services to the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, which will be held in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3-13 August.

The event is the first of its kind and will combine 13 existing UCI World Championships into one mega-event to create history by uniting the global cycling family. With more than one million spectators anticipated and a global broadcast audience of around one billion, it will become one of the world’s top 10 sporting events.

Jonathan Rigby, Director of Commercial Marketing and Communications at the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, said: “The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships is one of the most exciting projects on the global sporting landscape and it is imperative we bring in the right support to deliver an event that will be the first of its kind.

“We were hugely impressed by Frame’s experience, not only in working with some of the world’s biggest events, but in working with events across multiple venues and with many stakeholders. We’re looking forward to working with them to tell the story of the inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships as a world-class sporting event and one that can be a catalyst for transformational change in the way people use and engage with cycling across society.”

Darryl Broadfoot, Head of Sport at Frame, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be appointed to support the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. At Frame, we strive to make major events and competitions matter even more through creative communications.

“The unique format, combining the exiting 13 championships into one unforgettable major event over 11 days, gives us a rich platform to build a PR plan that will appeal to cycling enthusiasts and non-cyclists alike.

“The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be the crown jewel of the sporting calendar in 2023. It will reinforce Scotland’s reputation as a world-class host of global sporting events and underline Glasgow’s credentials as European Capital of Sport next year.

“We look forward to telling the awe-inspiring stories throughout the build-up and during the event itself.”

Focussing on new and innovative strategies, Frame’s brief will be to work with the organisers of the 2023 UCI Cycling Worlds to deliver integrated communications and content activity which not only showcases the enormity of the Championships as a sporting spectacle but also one which delivers on its promise to be a purpose-led event. Key objectives will include bringing cycling to new audiences, focussing on inclusion in cycling and acting as a catalyst for societal change for cycling as a sport and as an active travel option.

Frame demonstrated the full breadth of its sport and major event experience during the tender process. They are the retained PR agency to UEFA, European football’s governing body, and work on flagship club competitions including Men’s and Women’s Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.

Frame was heavily involved in promoting the global campaign for UEFA EURO 2020, whilst also supporting Hampden Park’s Host City Status.

Taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland in August 2023, the unprecedented event will welcome more than 8,000 amateur and elite cyclists from more than 120 countries with more than 190 UCI World Champions crowned.

To date, six venues have been announced in Glasgow and across Scotland, with additional venues and locations to be confirmed in the coming weeks and months to ensure a pan-Scotland delivery and to capture the imagination of the entire country.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships were awarded to Glasgow and Scotland as a result of significant previous experience hosting high-profile sporting events. Glasgow and Scotland have become a sporting hotspot by welcoming unforgettable competitions such as UEFA EURO 2020 matches, the 2014 Commonwealth Games, the multi-sport Glasgow 2018 European Championships as well as cultural events including the world-renowned Edinburgh Festivals.

Since the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games, participation sessions at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome have experienced positive uptake and cycling numbers have risen across Scotland. It is anticipated the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will continue the increase of pedal power in Scotland, inspiring the next generation of riders across a variety of cycling disciplines.

The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships are being delivered in collaboration between the UCI, Scottish Government, Glasgow City Council, UK Sport, British Cycling, Glasgow Life and VisitScotland.

The UCI, cycling’s world governing body, currently stages annual World Championships in each of its disciplines across the year in different host cities around the world. The UCI Cycling World Championships will bring these championships together every four years, the year prior to the Olympics, starting with the inaugural event in 2023.

BBC Extends World Snooker Broadcast Deal Until 2027

The BBC has agreed a three-year extension to broadcast World Snooker’s three major tournaments until 2027.

The current deal to show the World Championship, UK Championship and the Masters on TV and online was scheduled run to the end of the 2023-24 season.

The World Championship, currently under way at the Crucible in Sheffield, had a peak audience of four million for the 2021 final. Snooker has been televised by the BBC since 1969.

The UK Championship takes place in York in November, while snooker’s other ‘Triple Crown’ event, the Masters, is staged at Alexandra Palace, London, in January. 

World Snooker chairman Steve Dawson said: “Snooker belongs on the BBC and it’s important for our sport to be seen by a massive audience. 

“Millions of people enjoy snooker’s biggest events on the BBC and the quality of their production is outstanding. BBC’s coverage is an integral part of the rich history which surrounds our Triple Crown tournaments.” 

Barbara Slater, director of BBC Sport, added: “It’s wonderful news for snooker fans across the UK that the Triple Crown events will remain free to air.”

GAMEE Partners With Manchester City FC To Launch Games On Arc8 Play-And-Earn Gaming Platform

GAMEE, the play-and-earn casual mobile gaming subsidiary of Animoca Brands, has partnered with Manchester City Football Club to bring football-themed games to the Arc8 play-and-earn gaming platform, which offers crypto rewards.

The first game to kick off the partnership is Manchester City Striker, a captivating football game with 3D graphics and addictive gameplay. Players will be challenged to beat an AI-controlled goalkeeper and simultaneously hit targets with increasing difficulty. GAMEE will host unique tournaments and matches in Man City Striker in which players will be able to earn crypto as rewards.

The partnership between GAMEE and Manchester City FC marks the starting point for the evolution of the Arc8 gaming platform into the “arcadeverse”, a virtual casual gaming space that connects players, brands, and game creators. 

Bozena Rezab, the CEO of GAMEE, commented: “Arc8 started as a mobile app offering crypto rewards for play-and-earn gameplay, and grew into a product with a global audience of 200,000 monthly active users. The next step in the evolution of Arc8 is to become a hub for partner projects that are entering the blockchain gaming space via our platform. Manchester City is one of the very first partners to go live and we’re thrilled to collaborate with one of the leading brands in the world of sports.”

Arc8 currently has 12 live games, including Asteroids in collaboration with Atari and, as of today, Man City Striker in partnership with Manchester City FC. Additional brand partnerships will be announced in the coming weeks.

OneFootball Announces Series D Raise; Partners With Animoca Brands To Create OneFootball Labs

OneFootball has today announced a $300m series D funding round, as well as a new joint venture with Animoca Brands.

OneFootball, the world’s largest football media platform, and Animoca Brands, the company advancing digital property rights for gaming and the metaverse, today announced OneFootball Labs, a joint venture, and Liberty City Ventures. OneFootball Labs will enable clubs, leagues, federations and players to release digital assets and fan-centric experiences based on blockchain technology.

Yat Siu, the co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands, is joining the boards of both OneFootball and OneFootball Labs.

OneFootball today also confirmed the closing of its Series D funding round of US$300 million to support its future global growth and expansion into Web3. The round was led by Liberty City Ventures with support from Animoca Brands, Dapper Labs, DAH Beteiligungs GmbH, Quiet Capital, RIT Capital Partners, Senator Investment Group, and Alsara Investment Group.

The raise underlines OneFootball’s proposition as the biggest global football media platform, with more than 100 million monthly active users. OneFootball delivers comprehensive football content from hundreds of leagues and competitions worldwide, including a growing portfolio of free and pay-per-view live streamed football matches leading to more than 15,000 livestreams and on-demand content clips in 2021 alone. 

The OneFootball Labs joint venture is set to deliver a new era of football fan consumption, providing accessible, affordable, and unique fan experiences that will drive mass adoption of blockchain technology in football. These products will be offered at different price points to make them widely accessible and fans will also be able to purchase and store digital collectibles with just their email and a credit card. 

Animoca Brands will bring its deep expertise and network in blockchain, NFTs, gaming and the metaverse to assist OneFootball to create new products and services that will amplify digital fandom and create new revenue streams for the football industry. 

Yat Siu, co-founder and executive chairman of Animoca Brands said: “Over the last year, the sporting universe has made progress in harnessing the potential of NFTs and gaming, offering fans new digital experiences based on the important principles of true digital ownership and decentralization. Animoca Brands is proud to have played a role in nearly every significant milestone in the development of true digital property rights via NFTs. Bringing Web3 to the biggest sport in the world – football – through our participation in the OneFootball Labs joint venture is a match made in heaven.”

Lucas von Cranach, founder and CEO of OneFootball said: “We believe the future of football away from the stands and off the pitch will be decentralised and built on Web3, giving back the ownership of data and digital assets to the fans. OneFootball and OneFootball Labs will transform the digital experiences for football fans, giving them more access, more ownership and bringing them even closer to the game we all love, in a way that’s never been done before.”

Murtaza Akbar, managing partner at Liberty City Ventures, said: “With OneFootball’s 100M monthly active users, we have a special opportunity to harness the benefits of blockchain for a huge community of football fans offering them products they can truly own, and bringing them closer than ever to the game they love.”