UEFA confirms new Nations League composition

National associations divided in four leagues based on coefficient rankings

Following the conclusion of this week’s European Qualifiers group stage matches, UEFA has confirmed the composition of the four leagues for the UEFA Nations League 2018-19.

The format of the new national team competition features promotion and relegation and sees the 55 European national teams divided into four leagues in accordance with UEFA’s national association coefficient rankings.

The UEFA Nations League will be played in four leagues A to D, with League A containing the 12 highest-ranked teams.

League B contains the next 12 teams, League C the 15 following and League D the last 16 teams. The competition starts on 6 September 2018.

Each league will contain four groups of three or four teams. The league phase will be played over six matchdays from September to November 2018.

The composition of the groups within each league will be decided by means of a draw, which will take place on Wednesday 24 January 2018 at the Swiss Tech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Promotions and relegations between the leagues (four teams move up, four teams move down) will take effect for the second edition of the UEFA Nations League in September 2020. From that moment on, the composition of the leagues will be exclusively determined by the rankings of the previous edition.

The four League A group winners will play the Finals in June 2019 to determine the first UEFA Nations League winner. The Finals consist of four matches – semi-finals, third-place match and final – to be played in one of the finalist countries.

The UEFA Nations League aims to ensure the continued success of national team football by replacing most friendlies with competitive matches and by allowing all nations to play against equally-ranked teams.

The Masters announces international partnership with Delta Air Lines

Delta Air Lines has been announced as an international partner of the Masters golf tournament.

The new agreement begins in 2018 and will see Delta join UPS and Rolex in the ‘international partner’ sponsorship category while AT&T, IBM and Mercedes-Benz will remain as the tournament’s primary global sponsors.

“The business relationships we cultivate assist in our efforts to meet the unique and high expectations of quality established by our Founders many decades ago,” said Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament.

“Delta Air Lines is a welcome addition to our family of partners, and I know their enthusiasm for the Tournament – not to mention their own standards of excellence – will greatly enhance the Masters.”

The 2018 Masters Tournament will take place on April 2 – 8.

Fan engagement, the future of video and branded content among subjects discussed at iSportconnect’s popular Media & Communications Masterclass

iSportconnect, the largest global private network of sport business executives, has secured high praise from delegates for bringing together a wide-range of experts at the 2017 Media & Communications Masterclass.

The event was held at Charles Russell Speechlys’ offices in central London, with an array of high-ranking delegates in attendance.

The opening panel focused on the subject of internal communications and stakeholder engagement with Robert Sullivan, Strategy and Communications Director at The FA, Elizabeth Birchall, Head of Communications at UK Athletics & London 2017, and Adrian Bevington of Adrian Bevington Sport & PR Ltd, combining to offer expert insight into industry best practices and how to protect credibility.

Michael Underhill, Strategic Media Consultant at Ooyala, delivered an engaging keynote speech discussing how video has become a key ingredient in communication during the digital era.

Attendees were quick to pose plenty of questions of their own and the topic of live vs highlights led to an absorbing debate in regards to what could be next for video amid the potential threat of oversaturation.

Discussions continued throughout a close-knit networking break as delegates savoured an opportunity to share insights and experiences in their respective fields of communications.

The second panel of the day considered the theme of media and fan engagement, which has become crucial due to the rise of social media.

Fiona McLachlan, VP Communications at Eurosport, Steve Wilson, Director of Communications and International Relations at ITF, and Leon Mann, Director of Refresh Films, shared innovative viewpoints and thoughts on how executives can integrate both traditional media and digital outlets into communications strategies.

Liz Birchall, Head of Communications at UK Athletics & London 2017, said: “There’s always great people in the room and always a varied number of people from different sectors of the industry who can give you a real insight into the challenges they face.”

Steve Wilson, Director of Communications and International Relations at ITF said: “I’ve been on the other side of the fence for most of my career as a journalist. But now being on this side of the fence it’s been fascinating to be among my colleague in the communications field and hear their experiences, advice and professional words. It’s been a really helpful and influential experience.”

Peter Hannon, Head of Media and Communications at Commonwealth Games England said: “All the different panels were really interesting and there’s lot of things we can takeaway. I think we’ll be heading straight back to the office and putting some things into practice! It’s been very useful to be introduced to new people and speak to people you don’t normally get to talk to.”

iSportconnect has an exciting calendar of upcoming events, including the Dubai Summit and London Directors’ Club. Stay up-to-date with all future announcements on isportconnect.com. Please contact Chris Edbrook (chris@isportconnect.com) to register your interest.

South Africa’s new T20 Global League postponed until 2018

South Africa’s new domestic Twenty20 (T20 Global League) competition has been postponed by 12 months until November 2018.

The league was set to start next month, with England’s Eoin Morgan among a host of marquee international names due to take part.

The division is planning to be South Africa’s answer to the Indian Premier League and Australia’s Big Bash League but Cricket South Africa (CSA) and T20 Global League have made the decision to defer the inaugural competition.

“We have not come to this decision lightly,” said CSA Acting CEO, Thabang Moroe.

“Having discussed it with all our stakeholders including the franchise owners, we believe that the interest of the league should be our first priority. We have re-assessed our strategy and believe that postponing the first edition of the T20 Global League to next year will serve us well.

“We will regroup and come back stronger and better. At this time, we also wish to thank all the players, sponsors, broadcast partners, SACA (South African Cricketers Association) and FICA (Federation of International Cricketers) who have committed to the project.

“We appreciate the continued support of the individuals and organisations who have believed in this tournament.”

IAC extend Dragons sponsorship with jersey deal

Industrial Automation and Control (IAC) has today extended its commercial agreement with Welsh rugby union team the Dragons.

The new deal will see the company’s logo positioned on the right shoulder of the club’s home and away jerseys during the 2017/18 season.

Dragons Commercial Sales Manager, Dai Jenkins, said: “IAC have been a partner of the Dragons for many years.

“The company is an avid supporter of the Region and have a business in South Africa which works hand-in-hand with the expansion of the Guinness PRO14. It’s a very exciting time for the company and we are delighted that they have chosen us to help promote their brand.”

Kath Lewis, IAC Ltd Marketing and HR Director, added: “We are long term backers of the Dragons and are delighted to have been able to boost our support for the local team in this way.

“We actively support the Dragons and often entertain IAC Ltd’s business guests from home and abroad at Dragon’s games at Rodney Parade.”

Meanwhile, GOS Engineering have also agreed sponsorship deal with the Dragons. The Gwent-based company’s logo will feature on the first-team’s home and away shorts for the next two seasons.

iSportconnect announces Andrea Radrizzani as London Directors’ Club guest speaker

iSportconnect, the largest global private network of sport business executives, is delighted to announce that the next edition of the London Directors’ Club will take place on December 6.

Andrea Radrizzani, Founder & Group Chairman of Aser, and Owner & Chairman of Leeds United Football Club, has been confirmed as a guest speaker for the festive event.

The Italian businessman will take part in an individual interview before receiving questions from an esteemed audience of key decision makers within the sports industry.


There will also be ample time for delegates to network alongside their fellow executives throughout the evening-only event, giving those in attendance a unique opportunity to share experiences and best practices with their distinguished peers.

The Chatham House rule will be strictly adhered to, as with all Directors’ Club events, encouraging a free exchange of ideas within a relaxed atmosphere.

A venue and full lineup of speakers will be confirmed in due course. Please contact Chris Edbrook (chris@isportconnect.com) to register your interest.

What makes an iSportconnect Directors’ Club so special?

  • Events are open exclusively to Director/C-Suite level executives at sports rights holders, sponsorship brands and broadcasters.
  • Capacity is capped at 150 delegates allowing intimate access to key decision makers in the sports industry.
  • No agencies or press can attend and, as we follow The Chatham House rule, all discussions will remain confidential.

Garmin selected as Official Supplier for the Volvo Ocean Race

Garmin today announced that it has been selected as an official supplier for the Volvo Ocean Race 2017-2018.

The deal sets Garmin to provide its action and 360 cameras to the seven teams competing in the 45,000-mile race around the world.

The VIRB® 360 and VIRB Ultra 30, will be used on each boat to capture video that will be shared with race fans around the globe.

The Volvo Ocean Race, beginning on 222nd October, spans four oceans, touches six continents and stops in 12  cities.

“We’re honoured to have the opportunity to collaborate with the Volvo Ocean Race, a race known as one of the longest and toughest professional sporting events in the world,” said David Dunn, Garmin director of marine sales and marketing.“

“Our VIRB action cameras are rugged and ready for adventure, just like the sailors taking part in this race, and we’re confident race fans watching the footage at home will get to experience the sport they love like never before.”

Jordi Neves, Volvo Ocean Race chief digital officer, added: “This is a fantastic partnership for the race and we are looking forward to working with such a dynamic and innovative brand.

“We are especially excited to be able to deliver 360 experiences from all boats by our on-board reporters that will be delivering the story of the race in the toughest conditions.”

Arsenal and KONAMI announce official partnership

Konami Digital Entertainment B.V. (KONAMI) have today been confirmed as an official partner of Premier League club Arsenal.

As an official partner of the north London outfit, KONAMI will benefit from greater access to the Gunners’ first-team squad and Emirates Stadium. KONAMI has also agreed extensive licensing and promotional rights – including access to the club’s social media platforms.

Vinai Venkatesham, chief commercial officer, Arsenal Football Club, said: “Our working relationship with KONAMI to date has been extremely successful from a licensing perspective and we are delighted to extend this and welcome them as an official partner.

“We look forward to getting started in the next phase of our relationship with KONAMI and creating some fun and exciting content that both Arsenal and wider football fans will enjoy.”

Jonas Lygaard, senior director – brand and business development for Konami Digital Entertainment, added: “We are determined to work with the best clubs football has to offer and are delighted to partner with Arsenal.

“The relationship we formed last year has gone from strength to strength, most notably when Emirates Stadium played host to the PES LEAGUE World Final.

“As such, we were keen to work even closer with such a highly regarded club and the new agreement will allow us to perfectly recreate and feature Emirates Stadium and the club’s many stars within PES 2018.”

JP Morgan Chase becomes Official Bank of Golden State Warriors

Chase announced today that it has been named the official bank of the Golden State Warriors.

As part of the new partnership, Chase will have signage and ATMs throughout Oracle Arena and will debut the newly renovated J.P.Morgan Club.

Earlier this year, the Warriors inaugured Chase Center, the state-of-the-art sports and entertainment complex which will open in the fall of 2019 and serve as the home of the current NBA Champions.

“As our naming rights partner for Chase Center, we’re excited to continue to strengthen our partnership with Chase as our latest Warriors partner and official bank,” said Chip Bowers, Warriors chief marketing officer.

To celebrate the new partnership and the start of the new season, Chase will launch a Golden Victory Ball tour, starting on 10th October, in five cities throughout the Bay Area for five days leading up to the start of the Warriors 2017-18 season.

“Chase is delighted to deepen our partnership with the Golden State Warriors – true champions in every sense of the word,” said Jim Wening, Head of Middle Market Banking for JPMorgan Chase in the Bay Area.

“We hope Dub Nation enjoys the Golden Victory Ball tour as much as we do, as we all prepare to celebrate another championship season.”

SFR Sport agrees exclusive rights in France and Belgium to Anthony Joshua’s next three fights

SFR Sport has secured exclusive exclusive rights in France and Belgium to Anthony Joshua’s next three fights.

The coverage will commence when the British fighter faces Kubrat Pulev for the WBA and IBF belts in Cardiff on October 28.

Should Joshua beat his rival later this month a unification bout against America’s Deontay Wilder in 2018 could be on the cards.

The fight package was negotiated by SFR’s parent company Altice and is also set to give SFR Sport access to seven other major fights over the next two years, plus exclusive interviews and related content with Joshua ahead of his fights.

“This agreement is an immense honor for our group,” saidFrançois Pesenti, Managing Director of SFR Sport.

“In the wake of recent announcements of the acquisition of the most prestigious European soccer and basketball competitions, Altice’s association with Anthony Joshua once again illustrates its ability to give its subscribers the best of sport.”