Sports business news from Indian Premier League, Women’s football and more

Football Business

Nike and Neymar part ways with links of Puma getting stronger

Nike signed Neymar when he was 13 years old, Neymar signed a 11-year contract in 2011, valued at $105M, it was one of the most unique deals in Football. However, it is reported that both the parties have failed to agree a contract extension with a year left on the contract. Since they went separate ways, Puma is believed to be Neymar’s next partnership destination.

Premier League cancels its biggest overseas broadcast rights contract with China citing non-payment of dues

Premier League has confirmed the termination of its lucrative UK£523 million Chinese broadcast partnership with PPTV. The Suning-owned streaming service’s UK£160 million instalment for the 2019/20 season had been outstanding since February and now the Premier League has now taken action by cancelling its biggest overseas rights contract with two seasons left to run.

Everton and Aston Villa see shirt sales boost after switching from betting sponsors

After conducting a comprehensive review, Everton FC decided to end their sponsorship deal with SportsPesa two years before contract ending date. Everton FC signed a new shirt sponsorship deal with CAZOO (Digital car sales platform) and have seen a 60% increase in sales. Aston Villa FC have also ditched their betting sponsorship and switched to Cazoo and have seen a 50% increase in kit sales.

Women’s Football on a global rise

After the English FA, Brazil confirm equal pay for men and women national team players

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the governing body for soccer in Brazil, has announced that men and women will be paid the same amount for representing the national team. This means Brazil Women players will get the same daily rate as their male counterparts during international duty and they will also receive equal prize money.

Premier League’s ‘Matchday Support Fund’ provides funding for return of WSL fans

The Premier League, English soccer’s topflight, has launched a fund to help clubs in non-league, women’s football and the Welsh top division prepare for the safe return of fans to their grounds. According to reports, 65 leagues and more than 1,100 clubs able to benefit from financial support.

Olympique Lyonnais Féminin rewarded with a Mastercard sponsorship deal after winning their fifth consecutive European championship

Mastercard has expanded its partnership with French women’s soccer side Olympique Lyonnais Féminin. They replace insurance firm April Group as the reigning French and European champions’ shirt sponsor for domestic games during the 2020/21 Division 1 Féminine season.

Mastercard will also create exclusive content on its Priceless platform to engage with fans of the team digitally while they are unable to attend games because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Women’s Super League agrees NBC broadcast rights deal in the USA

The Football Association has agreed new overseas broadcast partnerships for its topflight Women’s Super League (WSL) covering the US, Germany and Italy. In the US, 50 WSL games from the 2020/21 season will be aired across the NBC Sports Network linear channel and digital platforms, with a potential reach of 85 million homes.

IPL News

IPL adds Cred as another partner to their fast-growing partnership portfolio

Credit card payment app Cred as the latest sponsor for its Twenty20 cricket franchise tournament, the Indian Premier League. It follows the announcement of Unacademy appointed as an official sponsor of the league.

Double sponsorship boost for regional news channel TV9

Hindi News channel TV9 Bharatvarsh has bagged lead arm sponsor of Kolkata Knight Riders for Indian Premier League and the upper chest sponsor of Trinbago Knight Riders for Caribbean Premier League.

BKT expands its sports sponsorship portfolio, sponsors six IPL teams

After striking deals with La Liga, KFC Big Bas and Cricket Australia, BKT announced a sponsorship agreement with six IPL teams for the upcoming season of IPL tournament. The company will sponsor six teams which include Mumbai Indians, Chennai Super Kings, Delhi Capitals, Kings XI Punjab, Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals.