Rangers Sign Fortrade As Official Online Trading Partner

RANGERS have signed Fortrade as their new Official Online Trading Partner. The UK-based Fintech company will embark on an initial 18-month  partnership. 

The Fortrade brand will be visible to a global television audience on the LED boards for this  weekend’s Old Firm match at Ibrox as part of a wide-ranging partnership that includes  visibility at Ibrox and across Rangers digital platforms. 

Fortrade Ltd was established in 2013 and has grown rapidly to become a leading provider of  online trading solutions for individual and institutional clients in various international markets.  Based in Chelsea, London, they are innovators specialising in developing trading platforms  that are both technologically advanced and user-friendly. 

Commercial and Marketing Director, James Bisgrove commented: “We’re excited to  welcome Fortrade as the newest member of the Rangers Commercial Partner family and are  delighted to have them on board for the remainder of the 2020/21 season, as well as our  historic 150th Anniversary season in 2021/22. 

“Rangers’ support spans the entire globe which will provide worldwide exposure for Fortrade,  who will benefit from a wide range of activations both at our iconic Ibrox Stadium and across  the club’s enhanced digital platforms. 

“Fortrade is on a clear pathway to becoming the world’s leading provider of online trading  and Rangers look forward to supporting Fortrade in reaching this goal through our innovative  new partnership.” 

Chris Warburton, Chief Executive Officer of Fortrade, said: “We are honoured to be  partnering with such an esteemed football club as Rangers FC, which has established a  strong pedigree over its 148 year history. Rangers FC is a natural fit for us as Europe is our  largest customer base, and we share with them a passion for striving for success whilst  having an ethos of transparency and respect for our customers, fans, partners and  employees.

“In addition, this partnership with one of the most successful clubs in Europe that  plays in one of the most popular leagues in the world will help us in furthering our strategy of  increasing our brand recognition and expanding our customer base globally.” 

Olympian Callum Skinner: “Russia has not been banned. This is merely a Russian Olympic kit rebrand – what message does that send to future athletes?”

Contrary to an athlete’s outcome-driven nature, sports politicians are rewarded for being ineffectual. They are paralyzed by sycophantic attempts to appease everyone and solve nothing.

Nowhere is this better illustrated in the long-running Russian Doping scandal. The cost of continued inaction has been stark. “Sporting Refugees” has entered our vocabulary as Russian whistleblowers sought refuge in the US, London 2012 continues on its trajectory towards the dirtiest games in history, athletes’ welfare jeopardised, and the values of sport, are being questioned as a result of ineffectual, impotent global anti-doping watchdog that failed to tackle the Russian doping scandal when the world stood watching.

Suppose we disregard our default character regardless whether you are an outcome-driven athlete or a laissez-faire sports politician, there should be a primary human value to act in the face of such egregious wrongdoing. At what point do sports politicians stand up for the majority and stand firm against a Russian state intent on desecrating sport?

The answer, it would seem, is not today. The best that the WADA-IOC duopoly, and their new friends in CAS, could muster is a Russian rebrand. In our short form society, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Russia is banned from the next two Olympic games: it’s what was widely misrepresented in headlines.

The reality is at best nuanced and at worst an example of miss-reporting. Make no mistake: Russia is not banned from international sport. They’ll be at Tokyo 2020 and other major sporting events en masse rebranded the Russian as ‘Neutral Athletes from Russia’. For WADA to claim that it has “banned Russia” is disingenuous, it is playing the public for fools and further alienating its number one stakeholder: the clean athlete.

When we finally tune into Tokyo 2020 next summer, you’ll still see a full-strength Russian Team in Russian colours with ” Russia” emboldened on their kit. It seems to the authorities a ban merely constitutes not displaying the flag or singing the national anthem. As one commentator put it, it’s akin to Lance Armstrong “the brand” being banned from the Tour de France but Lance Armstrong “the person” is still allowed to compete.

The parallels between cycling in the 80s and 90s and the Russian doping scandal are stark. “those who do not learn history are doomed to repeat it”. In cycling two ultimately preventable steps were forced upon the sport due to its inaction. European governments legislated to make doping a criminal offence and an exodus of sponsorship funds took place before sports politicians finally acted. History is repeating its self and the question is how low do we sink before we act? The Rodchenkov Act was only last week written into law in the USA.

A regretfully necessary piece of legislation where, just as France had to address cycling’s troubles, a national government has stepped in where sporting authorities have failed. It’s now a federal offence to engage in a doping conspiracy with a single US dollar or asset constituting a jurisdiction. Step one is complete; step two an exodus of sponsorship is on the horizon.

The commercial damage of these scandals is growing. Candidate cities to host the Olympic games are dwindling, embroiled by scandals the games have become dependent on autocratic countries to host events. The sad irony is that the Olympic movement can’t see the wood for the trees. In failing to act time and time again, the IOC can only appeal to autocratic nations, appealing to such nations means diluting your values further and further into the gutter. We’re caught in a cycle, where, like cycling, the final outcome could be rock bottom with a long journey to redemption. Sports politicians and their aversion to the action of any kind are imperiling our future.

What does the future hold for WADA and the anti-doping system as a result of yesterday’s unpopular decision? The Russian doping scandal has incompetently bumbled along since 2010, and it’s set a worrying precedent in its wake, I believe we have further to fall. Understanding the character of sports politicians validates my prediction, in the words of former WADA president Craig Reedie referring to Russia, “it might have been easier for us to cut our teeth on a less significant [country]”. This under-reported quote may have been the most significant statement a WADA official has ever made. The mask slipped, and it’s telling. Not only can a country with the financial, sporting and political might of Russia continue unchecked, other similar countries are welcome to join the bandwagon without fear of retribution. Yesterday’s decision was clear, there are no consequences for your actions.

Where does this leave the athletes? Disenfranchised yet again, they look to authorities to ensure their safety, reflect their values and validate their results. However, we see a glimmer of optimism from the athletes, they have learnt from Cycling’s past where the politicians have not. There used to be a culture of Omerta (code of silence) among cyclists. Now athletes worldwide are taking the opposite approach, they are speaking up and demanding better; podium protests, campaigns for reform all tentative actions of revolt that are happening now and are athlete lead. This time the athletes have learnt from history and they are refusing to see their sport end in the gutter.

Callum Skinner is a British former track cyclist. He won the silver medal in the individual sprint at the 2016 Summer Olympics, and was a member of the British team that won gold in the team sprint.

Premier League Extends $500m BeIN MENA Rights Deal

The Premier League and beIN MEDIA GROUP have announced a major new rights deal that will see beIN SPORTS as the Premier League’s official broadcast partner in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) until 2025.

The deal is for the 2022-2025 rights cycle and means beIN SPORTS can broadcast all 380 matches live in each season across all 24 countries in the region. beIN SPORTS has been the Premier League’s broadcast partner since 2013.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters said: “We are pleased to agree a significant deal with beIN SPORTS, who are a longstanding and valued partner. They have an outstanding track record of delivering top-quality Premier League content across all its platforms.

“Our clubs have millions of passionate fans across the Middle East and North Africa and beIN has played an important part in promoting the Premier League and helping engage those fans with our clubs and players.

“Dedicated coverage of every match in the Premier League, as well as comprehensive support programming and digital content, has helped to further grow interest in our clubs and we look forward to continuing our fantastic partnership with beIN.”

Chairman of beIN MEDIA GROUP, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, said: “We are delighted to renew our long-established and trusted partnership with the Premier League through to 2025.

“This deal demonstrates that rights-holders who do the most to protect their intellectual property also do the most to protect the value of their media rights.

“beIN is proud to be the Premier League’s official partner across all 24 countries in the Middle East & North Africa, and we look forward to inspiring and exciting the millions of Premier League fans in the region both in the lead-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup and for many years beyond.”

Premier League action will be broadcast live and exclusively by beIN SPORTS in both Arabic and English language via their dedicated portfolio of 19 sports channels, together with special programming presented by some of the biggest names in world football.

Extreme E Partners Global Luxury Brand Moncler

Extreme E, the new electric off-road racing series, has announced it is partnering with Moncler.

The renowned global luxury brand will provide a dedicated uniform for Extreme E’s on-site team, protecting them from the elements during the remote races. The co-branded uniforms include some of the brand’s most iconic outerwear as well as sweatshirts, t-shirts, soft-accessories and shoes for a mix of terrains.

Extreme E and Moncler both share a common purpose when it comes to sustainability. The Italian luxury brand recently launched its new sustainability plan – Moncler Born to Protect – that renews the company’s commitment towards sustainable development and further integrates social and environmental responsibility into its business model, focusing on five strategic drivers: climate action, circular economy, fair sourcing, enhancing diversity, and giving back to local communities.

This ties in perfectly with Extreme E’s environmental aims to raise awareness on the climate emergency and inspire action, all while delivering motorsport in the most sustainable way possible, from hydrogen fuel cells for car charging, to no spectators on-site, to reduce the championships carbon footprint.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO, Extreme E, said: “It’s great news that Moncler will be kitting out the Extreme E team on location. Not only are we heading to places like the Arctic in Greenland, where our team will need to be protected from the elements by the best quality gear, but it’s also crucial that we work with brands that share our same environmental ethos. Moncler is certainly the best partner to support us on both these levels.

“Moncler’s latest sustainability commitment covers many aspects of Extreme E’s focus. From reducing emissions and utilising clean energy, to supporting local communities, to embracing diversity –these are all things Extreme E stands for too.”

Founded in 1952, Moncler was born to protect from the cold. The Moncler Born to Protect Sustainability Plan extends this founding purpose of protection to people and to our planet, tackling some of the most pressing challenges facing the world. Like Extreme E, Moncler aims to be carbon neutral in 2021 and use 100% renewable energy by 2023.

Not only that, Moncler will soon have a Diversity and Inclusion Council to boost cultural change, something Extreme E is also championing with its stipulation that each team must field a male and female driver in a bid to drive equality in motorsport.

Giving back is also a key part of Moncler’s sustainability strategy by supporting local communities and ensuring all its employees are volunteering by 2022.

Moncler’s support to local communities is a crucial aspect of Extreme E’s plan too. As well as shining a spotlight on the environmental emergency, the series also seeks to leave a long-lasting positive impact through its Legacy Programmes.

Extreme E’s Legacy Programmes include national climate education for schools in Greenland with UNICEF, supporting agroforestry in the Amazon with The Nature Conservency, and planting a million mangroves in Senegal with the Oceanium NGO, with more projects to be confirmed.

The inaugural Extreme E season starts in March 2021 in AlUla, Saudi Arabia, before moving to Lac Rose, Senegal in May, Kangerlussuaq, Greenland in August, and the Amazon, Brazil in October, before the season finale in Patagonia, Argentina, in December.

LaLiga Agrees Fan Engagement Deal With GreenPark Sports

GreenPark Sports, the fan-focused publisher and developer of mobile games and social experiences, has announced a global partnership with world-renowned Spanish soccer league LaLiga.

GreenPark and LaLiga will work closely together in the multiyear deal to engage next-generation soccer fans in GreenPark’s virtual metaverse for sports and esports fans.

With the commitment to captivate local fan communities and networks, the partnership allows fans to select any of the league’s 20 teams as they flex their team spirit using their in-game avatar. As a GreenPark “superfan,” players will also be able to digitally outfit their avatar with authentic and custom LaLiga team gear, while participating in obstacle course runs, dance battles and various other minigames including some that leverage real-time scoring and statistics. In-game currency can also be exchanged for exclusive rewards and digital fan-gear.


“As one of the leading sports brands in the world, we continuously explore all the unique avenues to connect and engage with our fans globally. This partnership will let us get closer to the gaming community worldwide and offer them the possibility to follow the best soccer in the world, LaLiga” said Oscar Mayo, Head of Marketing and International Development at LaLiga. “We are confident that our partnership with GreenPark Sports will help us reach the next generation of fans by offering an exciting virtual arena for them to be a part of.”


Launching in early 2021, GreenPark Sports creates immersive social platforms for the new generation of sports and esports fans. The free-to-play mobile app will offer in-game experiences, allowing fans to battle it out through a variety of challenges and become the undisputed “Best Fans” of their league. Players can earn rewards virtually as well as exclusive tangible rewards.

“LaLiga represents some of the largest brands in all of sport, and the fueling passion from their fans is unparalleled,” said Tony Grillo, Vice President of Business Operations at GreenPark. “We look forward to co-creating special experiences for their fans and seeing them bring their energy into GreenPark!”

FIBA Signs Global Partnership With Mobile Service Provider Smart

FIBA, the International Basketball Federation, and Smart, the Philippines’ leading mobile services provider, have announced a new global partnership ahead of the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023.

The announcement was made today at a virtual press conference hosted by Smart, FIBA and Samahang Basketbol Ng Pilipinas (SBP).

This four-year partnership will run through until December 31, 2023. Under the terms of the agreement, Smart is granted exclusivity in the category of telecommunications worldwide.

The partnership provides key commercial rights across all FIBA competitions, including the men’s and women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournaments, FIBA Continental Cups for both men and women, FIBA Youth World Cups, the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup 2022 and FIBA’s pinnacle event, the FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2023.

Smart will play a pivotal role in the lead up to, and during, the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023, using their latest Smart 5G technology. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 is set to take place for the first time across three nations, the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia, from August 25 to September 10, 2023. The Group Phase will be held across all three host countries, with the Final Phase to follow in the Philippine capital city of Manila. FIBA and Smart will work together to create a wide array of exciting experiences for both athletes and fans around the world.

Present at today’s virtual press conference announcement were Manuel V. Pangilinan, PLDT Chairman, SBP Chairman Emeritus and FIBA Central Board Member; Alfredo S. Panlilio, Smart President and CEO and SBP President; and FIBA Secretary General Andreas Zagklis.

“Our partnership with FIBA is a milestone for the whole nation, just as it is for our company. Through Smart’s mobile innovations, we look forward to introducing immersive digital experiences that will bring hardcourt action to the fingertips of basketball fans around the world and connect us all in our love for the sport,” said Manuel V. Pangilinan.

Alfredo S. Panlilio said that this is a milestone not only for Smart but, more importantly, for the nation.

“This is a huge step in bringing our athletes closer to the world stage. Smart has always been at the forefront when it comes to supporting Filipino athletes and their journey to greatness,” Panlilio said.

Andreas Zagklis added: “We are extremely pleased to welcome Smart Communications as a FIBA Global Partner. Joining forces with a leading telecommunications company such as Smart will bring unrivalled opportunities in the lead up to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023. Giving our fans the best ever experience, whether at home or in arenas, is a crucial aspect of any FIBA event, and even more so for this flagship competition. We are looking forward to working with Smart to harness their state-of-the-art technologies and 5G capabilities to deliver the most connected and engaging FIBA Basketball World Cup to date.”

This agreement was brokered by FIBA Marketing, the strategic partnership between FIBA and Infront.

International Association Of Event Hosts And iSPORTCONNECT Partner To Host Peer Group Events In 2021

London, December 16th 2020 –  iSPORTCONNECT, The World’s Largest Private Sport Business Network, is delighted to announce a new event partnership with the International Association of Event Hosts (IAEH). 

The International Association of Event Hosts (IAEH) exists for representatives of international destinations to collaborate together to generate the best possible value from hosting major sporting and cultural events, and provide a voice for ‘not for profit’ hosts of events. IAEH provides a platform for members to learn from the successes and challenges of major events, share knowledge and generate greater long term social and economic benefits from hosting events.

iSPORTCONNECT and IAEH will be hosting a series of events throughout 2021 exclusively for our Host Cities and Major Event Organisers Peer Groups through our community platform on our website. iSportConnect Peer Groups are a private space for sports business directors to network, collaborate and learn from each other.

The first event will be held as part of the Host Cities and Major Events Holder’s Peer Group Zoom Calls:

Date: Thursday 21st January 

Time: 1.30pm GMT/ 2.30pm CET/ 8.30am EST,

Topic: The ‘Bubble’ Phenomenon: lessons learned and impact on host cities.

Speakers: TBA – Early 2021.

In collaborating with IAEH on this new venture, iSPORTCONNECT’s Head of Partnerships Bethany Hushon said: “We have been trialling Peer Groups for several months and we will be launching over 200 private zoom calls throughout next year and it’s just great to have Olga and her team contributing like this,”

“We are excited to be working with iSPORTCONNECT to offer our members the opportunity to engage with peers and learn from industry leaders in live online sessions,” said IAEH Business Manager Olga Correia. “The topics we are proposing are especially relevant to the challenges we are collectively facing during the current crisis.”

This event is for members of the IAEH, plus members of iSPORTCONNECT’s Host Cities and Major Events Holder’s Peer Groups. To register, log into the iSPORTCONNECT website and find the event listed on your dashboard: https://www.isportconnect.com/community/peer-group-calls/

If you would like to join one of our Peer Groups and how you are able to join, please register your interest: https://www.isportconnect.com/our-peer-groups/

Infront Appoints Andreas Kaeshammer As Global Head of Football

Infront, a Wanda Sports Group company, has appointed Andreas Kaeshammer as its new global Head of Football.

Kaeshammer has been part of the Infront Group since February 2016, initially working on new business and project management for the football and summer sports business units. Since then he has worked on several key partnerships including the acquisition of media rights for the English Premier League in sub-Saharan Africa and the Scottish Professional Football League. He also helped drive the Group’s recent restructuring.

Bruno Marty, Senior Vice President of ProSports at Infront said: “Andreas has quickly come through the ranks at Infront and this appointment reflects both his experience and knowledge of the business. It also illustrates Infront’s ability to promote talent from within and recognise the abilities of our employees. Football remains strategically important to Infront as it continues to undergo significant changes which we must meet head-on. Andreas’ new mandate will centre on tackling these ongoing developments to ensure we maintain and build on our position as one of the top players in the market.”

Kaeshammer said: “I am delighted to take on this new role during a period of immense potential for Infront and football as a whole. The sport finds itself in a period of transition with new developments in the market, most notably the integration of innovative digital solutions in sports technology, and it is crucial to merge these with the traditional rights business.”

A German national, Kaeshammer comes from strategy consulting where the focus is on understanding the needs of a partner and devising value-add solutions to fulfil those requirements. Before joining Infront five years ago, Kaeshammer worked at Bain & Company as a consultant.

Infront currently serves over 40 football rightsholders at all levels of the sport including continental, national, league and club football.

Kaeshammer will replace Stephan Herth who chose to leave the company after 17 years in February 2020 but had remained in a consultancy role to ease the transition. Herth’s position on the Group Management Board will not be replaced at this time.

Eagles Become First NFL Team With Esports Tournament Provider

Esports Entertainment Group has announced a landmark multiyear partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles to serve as the first esports tournament provider for an NFL club.

As part of the multiyear agreement, EEG will operate biannual Madden NFL esports tournaments for the Eagles utilizing the Esports Gaming League platform. Also under the terms of the deal, the Eagles will become an EEG shareholder.

“This innovative partnership with Esports Entertainment Group presents a wonderful opportunity for us to expand our reach in a growing market and create new experiences for Eagles fans,” said Catherine Carlson, Senior Vice President, Revenue and Strategy, Philadelphia Eagles.

“Esports Entertainment Group has always been a progressive leader in the esports space and has been ahead of the curve in terms of how its interactive platform brings together gaming enthusiasts from all around the world. We look forward to debuting a number of exciting projects through this partnership, including the launch of the highly anticipated Madden tournament series on the Esports Gaming League platform.”

As a proud partner of the Philadelphia Eagles, EEG will leverage player imagery within the Eagles local market. EEG will also work with Eagles players to create custom videos that will promote the tournaments and be featured in the Eagles extensive ongoing digital marketing efforts spanning social, email, mobile, and online channels.

“We are thrilled to partner with the Philadelphia Eagles as they introduce their fans to the world of competitive esports gaming,” said Grant Johnson, CEO of Esports Entertainment Group. “The Eagles join a growing list of high-profile organizations that have chosen Esports Entertainment Group as their esports tournament provider, affording us an incredible opportunity to expand our brand reach within multiple large, dedicated fan bases and setting the stage for significant growth ahead. We intend to build on this momentum.”

“Our tournament segment is a key component of our Three Pillar growth strategy,” said Magnus Leppäniemi, EVP Esports at EEG. “This partnership with the Philadelphia Eagles is a testament to the quality of our platform and ability to deliver. We look forward to a long and mutually rewarding relationship.”

Doha To Host 2030 Asian Games

Doha will host the 2030 Asian Games, the Olympic Council of Asia announced Wednesday, while Riyadh was named as host of the 2034 edition.

An executive board meeting of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) unanimously approved the proposal to name the runner-up in the two-horse race for the 2030 games as 2034 hosts.

“I can now announce… that the city who had the highest vote and will host 2030 is Doha,” said OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

“The second hosting city, for 2034, is Riyadh.”

Voting was delayed by hours after technical problems with the online system, in place to allow some national olympic committees to participate remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“I apologise for the technical problem we are facing during our voting,” said Sheikh Ahmad. Today the difficult things have been solved and the easy things have been problems. I will be glad to have two games in west Asia, to be honest,” added Sheikh Ahmad.

Saudi and Qatar are locked in a bitter dispute after an alliance of countries led by Riyadh cut diplomatic, economic and transport ties with Doha in 2017, accusing it of backing radical Islamists and Iran.

Qatar denies the charges and there has been progress to reconcile the dispute in recent weeks with all sides praising Kuwaiti-led mediation.

Ahead of the vote, the OCA’s president said he was seeking a “win-win” situation for Doha and Riyadh.