Football DataCo Secures New Partnership Deals

Football DataCo Limitied, the body that markets and commercialises official match data on behalf of the Premier League, Football League and Scottish Professional Football League, has agreed two new sports data deals after being advised by Couchmans LLP, a leading UK specialist sports law firm.

Opta Sports Data has been named Football DataCo’s official data collection and distribution partner to the media. RunningBall AG (part of the Perform Group) are the official data collection and distribution partner of live match data to the betting industry.

Opta will use the data to enrich broadcast and digital coverage through state-of-the-art technology, whilst RunningBall AG will supply live information to bookmaker clients.

Steven Burton, Head of Sports Data & Betting at Couchmans LLP, said:”We were delighted to assist our long-standing client Football DataCo in relation to these deals which will mean data from the UK Leagues will be delivered to betting companies, media and fans faster, more efficiently and in more innovative ways than ever before. We are continuing to see rapid growth in the demand for sports data. The exploitation of official data offers opportunities for leagues and governing bodies but it remains a complex area technically, commercially and politically.”

David Folker, General Manager of Football DataCo, added: “Steven and his team at Couchmans continue to be our go-to advisors in the area of sports data and betting. Their industry knowledge and commercial approach combined with undoubted technical legal expertise has been invaluable in concluding these important and innovative data partnerships.”