LaLiga Hails Blocking Of Rojadirecta In Denmark

The streaming service Rojadirecta has been judged as illegal and will now be blocked by Danish internet providers, following an operation by LaLiga and RettighedsAlliancen.

The internationally popular service, which at the time of the proceedings of the case had 19,000 Danish visitors in just one month, has allowed users to stream live football matches, including matches to which the Spanish football league La Liga holds the rights. 

In this case, it has also been emphasized that the purpose of linking to the football matches in question has been to attract traffic in order to gain financial profit through ad revenue. According to RettighedsAlliancen it is typically football that draws users to illegal streams and which form the basis of advertising revenue and data for criminal offenders.

A total of nine live sports services were judged illegal earlier this year and were blocked, following a case brought by LaLiga in cooperation with RettighedsAlliancen. The verdict was the first of its kind in Denmark and addresses the widespread distribution of sports matches on illegal services.

Recognition of the blocking system as an enforcement tool

According to Maria Fredenslund, CEO of RettighedsAlliancen, it is rare that representatives of indicted services appear in court and be heard, even though they are always provided with information and called to appear during the case. The fact that Rojadirecta did appear at the hearing, without changing the verdict, underlines that the blocking system is functioning appropriately. 

“Rojadirecta appeared in court and presented a defence but was convicted and blocked nonetheless – just like other illegal services. It stands to confirm that the blocking system works even if it is challenged, and of course we are very pleased with this,” Fredenslund said.

Melcior Soler, the director of LaLiga’s audiovisual department from, explained why this result is important for LaLiga: “We are very satisfied with how the process ended. Blocking one of the best-known pirated content sites is a very important achievement. With this victory we feel more protected, as do our broadcasters, and also our audiovisual value”.

Also a victory for users

Blocking live sports services is not only a victory for the rightsholders, but also for the users, according to Fredenslund who added: “When navigating on illegal services, studies show that there is an increased risk of being affected by malware because the criminal offenders who operate the services do not prioritize the safety of users, but merely their own financial gain.”

The protection of rights therefore goes hand in hand with user security on the Internet.

Wycombe Wanderers Partners Ticketco To Introduce Cashless Payment Options

Wycombe Wanderers has partnered with TicketCo to offer cashless payment options in bars at Adams Park.

The introduction of the technology forms part of the club’s vision to become a cashless stadium in the future. Wanderers launched the cashless bar solutions at the weekend when the club went top of League One following its 3-1 victory over Lincoln City.

Wanderers supporters can now pre-order drinks from the club’s Rebellion beer tent in the Chairboys Village via the TicketCo website or app and simply display the QR code at the bar to receive the drink at the express queue for ‘click and collect’ purchases, cutting queue times. Contactless technology was also added to bars inside the ground for the first time, via the partnership.

Mark Palmer, from the club’s management team, said: “We’ve taken on board feedback from supporters about lengthy queues at the bar at peak times on matchday, and are pleased to have worked with TicketCo to develop a ‘click and collect’ solution which enables fans to pre-buy their drinks and pick them up from the bar.

“We soft launched the new procedure at the weekend and hope to roll it out across the stadium in the weeks to come, while we’re also working on improving the wi-fi connections at all point of sales to enable contactless payments at every food or merchandise outlet.

“We’ve had a lot of success already with the new TicketCo platform when it comes to fans buying tickets quickly and simply online or via the app. Hopefully this new development is another positive step for our supporters’ matchday experience.”

David Kenny, TicketCo UK Country Manager, said: “The pre-ordering option is an easy to use modern solution that helps reduce waiting times. It is fantastic working with such a forward-thinking football club that cares about its fans. Supporters are now starting to see the additional benefits of the TicketCo technology as we develop Wycombe’s cashless strategy in partnership with the club.”

Arsenal To Drink Ganzberg In Cambodia

Arsenal has joined forces with German beer brand Ganzberg.

As part of the partnership, it will become the club’s Official Beer Partner in Cambodia.The partnership will aim to harness the popularity of football and Arsenal in Cambodia to continue to support Ganzberg’s growth as the number one beer in the region.

As well as Official Beer Partner in Cambodia, Ganzberg will also join as Official Regional Fruit Juice, Soft Drinks and Honey Lemon Tea Drinks Partner of Arsenal in Cambodia.

Ganzberg will further get branding across billboards, digital advertising and cans and will also work with Arsenal Football Development’s coaches to deliver annual coaching clinics.

Hadrien Perazzini, Arsenal Director of APAC said: “We are delighted to welcome Ganzberg to the club as our Official Beer Partner in Cambodia. Our passionate supporters are based all around the world and we know the love that fans in Cambodia have for football and for Arsenal.

“We are also excited to connect with new fans in Cambodia through this partnership, whilst sharing our expertise to deliver coaching programmes and supporting Ganzberg to engage their consumers.”

“We are really excited to be partnering with Arsenal Football Club,” commented Ganzberg’s Brewmaster. “This is a great partnership because of our shared values and it reflects our commitment to bring world-class content to our valued customers here. We hope strongly that the deal will help us to become the number one beer in the market”.

 

European Leagues Present Principles For European Club Competitions Post 2024

European Leagues – the Association gathering 36 professional football leagues representing more than 950 clubs in 29 countries across Europe – has presented today its own principles to contribute reforming and improving European Club Competitions from 2024 onwards.

The leagues have identified 3 key starting points for the future of European Club Competitions:

Protect domestic leagues
Increase participation
Fairer Financial distribution
These starting points are key to start a new era of cooperation with UEFA to find an agreement with the football stakeholders on Format and Access, Financial Distribution and Solidarity, Calendar and Club Coefficient System which are the main interlinked factors that define the European club competitions.

For specific details regarding the principles identified by the European Leagues for the key factors mentioned above, please visit www.SupportYourLeague.com , a new platform giving a voice to all stakeholders seeking to help the game thrive in Europe at all levels.

The project aims to inform, educate and engage fans, clubs, players, domestic leagues, national associations, press and media, broadcasters and other commercial partners about the opportunities presented by UEFA Club Competitions (UCC) reform from 2024 onwards so they can make an informed contribution to the process.

The www.SupportYourLeague.com website is the key driver of the campaign for an open competitive competition structure in Europe. It is a living platform, available in five languages (en/de/sp/it/fr), which will evolve and be updated constantly, giving leagues, clubs and fans across Europe a voice about their ideas for the sustainable development of European club football.

“The platform includes feedback from stakeholders, across Europe, on initial proposals for the 2024 / 27 UCC cycle, along with deep analysis of the evolving dynamic between UEFA Club Competitions and domestic football over the past decade. Finally the it includes the concrete proposal of the European Leagues for a fairer revenue distribution model already for the upcoming 2021/24 UCC. “We are presenting this information in an effort to provide context and move the UCC reform debate into a more collaborative and inclusive phase” says Alberto Colombo, Deputy General Secretary of the European Leagues and Campaign’s coordinator.

Comments and statements from stakeholders across Europe in 2019 show there is a clear desire to reform UEFA Club Competitions from 2024 onwards in ways that contribute to the growth of professional football as a whole, while also improving the competitive balance of both domestic leagues and international club competitions.

“The European Leagues, and a wide range of stakeholders, have shown they are open to new innovations providing they are underpinned by the principles of current sporting merits, the primacy of domestic football, and the need to respect the domestic football calendar beloved by fans. We are encouraged by UEFA commitment to an inclusive approach and feel that this new platform and campaign will enable us to canvas the broadest base of opinions, ideas and strategies possible in a transparent way. We look forward to a healthy and productive process for UEFA Club Competitions reform in the coming months in order to reach an outcome that works for all of European football” concludes Lars-Christer Olsson, President of European Leagues.

NBA Partners SBS To Broadcast Live Games In Australia

The National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) have joined forces with SBS in a multiyear partnership to broadcast live NBA and WNBA games to a nationwide audience.
SBS will broadcast two live, regular season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand.  NBA games will also be available on-demand on SBS On Demand, and additional NBA content will be featured on the SBS Sport website.
SBS will also broadcast one live WNBA game per week on SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand throughout the WNBA regular season and a selection of games from the first three rounds of the WNBA playoffs.
SBS Managing Director, James Taylor said: “Premium international sports continue to be a focus of SBS’s offering, and we are thrilled to partner with the NBA and the WNBA to bring live coverage back to Australians for free. The NBA and the WNBA are among the world’s most diverse leagues and basketball is an increasingly popular sport.

“Building on our recently announced deal with the NBL, these partnerships with the NBA and the WNBA make SBS the exclusive free-to-air home of basketball in Australia and are a great opportunity to bring new audiences, particularly younger viewers, to SBS VICELAND and SBS On Demand.”

NBA Asia Head of Global Content and Media Distribution, Ramez Sheikh said: “We are excited to partner with SBS to bring NBA and WNBA games and programming to a nationwide audience on free-to-air television.These partnerhsips show that fans in Australia have a growing demand for basketball content and beginning next season, they will enjoy outstanding NBA and WNBA coverage on SBS across broadcast and digital.”

UEFA Signs Coca-Cola As Sponsor For Euro 2020

UEFA and Coca-Cola have agreed on a partnership which will see the beverage manufacturer become the official non-alcoholic beverage sponsor for UEFA Euro 2020.

The sponsorship deal will give the company the opportunity to showcase several brands, including sparkling beverages, sports drinks, water, ready-to-drink coffee and fruit-based drinks, with low, and sugar-free options.

Guy-Laurent Epstein, marketing director of UEFA Events SA said: “We value Coca-Cola’s continued commitment to European national team football, which is into its fourth decade, in coming onboard as a sponsor for UEFA Euro 2020.

“Coca-Cola is a perfect partner for us, not only because of its long association with UEFA, but also because of its ability to unite people and bring them together. This is particularly relevant for UEFA EURO 2020, as for the first time, we are staging the tournament across 12 countries, which will allow more fans than ever to watch top-level football across the continent.”

Walter Susini, Coca-Cola’s vice-president for marketing for Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “We’ve had a long and rich history supporting football at all levels from the grassroots to the world stage. I am delighted that we can continue to share the joy of football with millions of fans, as well as our customers and partners. In 2020, leading up to and during the tournament, we’ll feature a broader array of beverages than ever before to refresh teams and fans alike all across Europe”.

Man City Women’s FC Signs Partnership With Dylon Colour Catcher

Manchester City Women’s Football Club has agreed a long term partnership with Dylon Colour Catcher.

As part of the partnership, Colour Catcher will have pitch-side LED animation and sampling activation at the Etihad Stadium during the first ever Barclays FA Women’s Super League Manchester derby this coming Saturday 7th September, 2019.

A variety of media assets will be unveiled in coming months across digital, TV and social platforms featuring Steph Houghton, Demi Stokes and Jill Scott, illustrating how their lives are a mix between their biggest passion and their profession of football.

Gavin Makel, Head of Women’s Football at Manchester City said: “Everyone at Manchester City is excited to welcome Colour Catcher as an Official Partner of our women’s team. We are delighted to be working with such a trusted, well-known brand and hope this is the beginning of a long and successful journey for both parties.”

Dylon Colour Catcher’s Marketing Director, Nikki Vadera, added: “Last year’s campaign was very well received by consumers, and this year’s campaign develops the ‘Dare to Mix’ message by focusing on breaking free from prejudice and the shackles of identity norms.

“Everyone is multifaceted and has various hobbies and passions outside the 9-5. What better way to reinforce this than to partner with Manchester City Women’s Football Club to showcase the players and their different passions?  We are excited to be working with the team over the next few seasons. In fact, there could not have been a better time for this collaboration, particularly on the back of the players’ successes on the international stage.”

Borussia Dortmund Agrees Deal With InstaForex In Asia

Borussia Dortmund has named InstaForex as its official partner in Asia and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The partnership will see range of assets including the use of new technology that sees Instaforex messages regionally broadcast via digital billboards to Asian markets at several Bundesliga home matches.

Ildar Sharipov, the founder and president of InstaForex said: “At the moment InstaForex is not only a broker but rather an IT company, investing heavily to technology and striving to offer the customers new innovative products on a regular basis. It’s well known that IT plays a very significant role in football too, so we’re looking not only for a leading team but also for technology enthusiasts in football which are a perfect match to our business philosophy.

“For these reasons it was a natural choice to align with such a team as Borussia Dortmund. We look forward to working with the club to further develop our respective brands in the markets of Asia and CIS.”

BVB Head of Asia, Suresh Letchmanan said: “We are very pleased to have secured Instaforex as a partner of Borussia Dortmund. The partnership with the leading online Forex trading company is a win for all sides – especially the fans in the markets of Asia and CIS who can look forward to many exciting activities with the BVB.”

St Kilda FC To Deliver With Deliveroo As Principal Partner

St Kilda Football Club has signed a partnership with food delivery brand Deliveroo.

The internationally renowned brand will become one of the club’s two co-principal partners for an extended undisclosed term, supporting both the Saints’ men’s and women’s teams.

The Deliveroo Roo will feature on the front of the men’s jumpers and on the back of the women’s jumpers as St Kilda’s inaugural AFLW side takes the field for the first time.

Furthermore, former AFL player Nick Riewoldt has been appointed as an official ambassador of the club.

Nick said: “Having a brand like Deliveroo partner with the club is incredibly exciting and will give us a huge boost ahead of the 2020 season. It’s been so great to see the development in our young players with guys like Rowan Marshall, Hunter Clark and Josh Battle joining Jade Gresham, Seb Ross and Jack Billings in shaping the future of the club.”

CEO Matt Finnis said: “The support of Deliveroo and Nick Riewoldt is game-changing for the club.  Deliveroo is an iconic global brand at the forefront of innovation and customer service and we are thrilled to welcome them as a co-principal partner.  It’s exciting to have an organisation of their strength backing the Saints and that the support extends beyond our men’s team to also encompass our new AFLW side.
“This partnership provides a really strong platform to achieve on-field success. Nick’s commitment demonstrates that everyone who loves the club has a role in our mission to win a second premiership. From the board, to the coaches, players and supporters, we need to raise the bar and turn the Saints from a sleeping giant into a powerhouse.”

CGF Unveils Transformation 2022 Refresh

The Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) has unveiled the Transformation 2022 Refresh.

Transformation 2022 is the Commonwealth Sport Movement’s Strategic Plan from 2015-2022, with the refresh covering the period from 2019-2022 following the first four-year phase.

The plan follows detailed member consultation as part of the CGF’s Regional Meeting Programme which commenced following the conclusion of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

It also establishes a new strategic priority focusing on the Movement’s ambition to ‘Realise Collective Impact’ – focused on athletes and sport for social change – a defining differentiator for the Commonwealth Sport Movement.

This aims to empower and equip athletes as agents of change and advocates for integrity; provide support and opportunities for CGAs; contribute to truth, reconciliation and relief programmes and strengthen the contribution of sport in Commonwealth Cities. This new strategic priority also includes the future formation of the Commonwealth Sport Foundation.

CGF CEO David Grevemberg CBE said: “There really is no better place than Rwanda to strengthen and position Commonwealth Sport as a progressive leader in sport and social change, harnessing the power of sport as a catalyst to unleash our human potential and positively transform lives. The Transformation 2022 Refresh will ensure the Commonwealth Sports Movement is in the best possible position to capitalise on the opportunities and mitigate possible risks that lie ahead in a rapidly changing world.

“It is an important time to galvanise and drive the positive impact of sport on society which is why we have updated and launched an exciting new Commonwealth Sport Brand to keep pace with our ambition. This means we aren’t just unveiling a new logo and emblem but actually linking our narrative, positioning and meaning. It is about putting the emphasis back on our vision, our values and our athletes.”