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Tag: Javier Tebas

  • Sportel 2025: Laliga’s Tebas declares war on football pirates

    Sportel 2025: Laliga’s Tebas declares war on football pirates

    MONACO: Piracy is theft, plain and simple. That’s the message Javier Tebas delivered with fire at Sportel Monaco, opening his remarks with a moral flourish: “When I was a young man I was taught not to steal because it’s a sin. This is stealing.” The LaLiga president wasn’t mincing words. He warned that illegal streaming remains one of the gravest threats to football’s future and demanded that rights holders stop being passive victims.

    “Rights holders need more awareness,” Tebas urged. “Broadcasters have to work on the protection of the service.” The enemy, he explained, is growing more sophisticated by the day. Pirates are deploying increasingly advanced technology to siphon content, forcing LaLiga to respond with its own arsenal. The league is pouring investment into anti-piracy systems designed to trace and block illegal streams in real time. “Pirates are extremely advanced,” Tebas said. “We’re blocking. It is like the NASA headquarters…but we need to be able to trace them.”

    The war on piracy wasn’t Tebas’s only battle. He also vented his frustration over UEFA’s reluctant approval of LaLiga’s plan to stage a match in the United States—the December 2025 fixture between Barcelona and Villarreal in Miami, Florida. “It is very frustrating,” he said of UEFA’s stance. “This is a very old-fashioned vision of professional football.”

    Tebas argued that taking one league match abroad is a natural step for a global sport, not some radical betrayal of tradition. “This is just one game, not twenty,” he pointed out, before deploying a cultural counterpunch: “We accepted Halloween from the US, why don’t they accept something from us?”

    But the LaLiga chief suggested there’s more lurking beneath the surface—secrets he’s saving for his memoirs. “I am going to write about it when I retire and talk about a lot of secrets,” he teased. Until then, he’ll keep fighting pirates, battling UEFA, and dragging Spanish football into the future—willing or not.

  • Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum turns into a high-stakes sports-tech power play as Sportel 2025 starts

    Monaco’s Grimaldi Forum turns into a high-stakes sports-tech power play as Sportel 2025 starts

    MONACO: The sports industry’s deal-makers have flooded into Monaco this week, and the energy is electric. Nearly 70 countries have sent their sharpest minds to Sportel 2025, a three-day collision between legacy sports titans and maverick tech disruptors that kicks off today and runs through 22 October. This is where real money gets moved and genuine innovation gets showcased.

    The Grimaldi Forum is heaving with some of sport’s biggest names exhibiting: Fifa, La Liga, the World Cup of Hockey 2028, alongside a glittering roster of tech firms like Qualcomm, AWS, and Wasabi. But Sportel is no mere trade show—it’s a strategic summit where the next generation of sports media gets hammered out.

    The conference programme cuts straight to the chase. Javier Tebas, La Liga’s president, will deliver a keynote spelling out how the world’s most compelling league is monetising itself. But the real fireworks come in a masterly panel on investment: “Where is the next $1bn coming from?” features the CEOs of Surj Sports Investment, Kings League, and the Professional Fighters League, all circling the same question—which markets are still hungry, and where will private equity and sovereign wealth funds actually deploy capital?

    There’s more. A panel on Formula 1’s storytelling prowess asks whether authentic sport crossed with entertainment star power can turbocharge sponsorship and rights values. Then comes the tech avalanche: sessions on generative AI reshaping everything from content creation to the fan experience; on new live-streaming tools that personalise what viewers see; on how Liverpool FC is harnessing AI and cloud infrastructure to deepen loyalty across the globe.

    The Ligue 1+ case study is particularly clever—a league building its own direct-to-consumer platform, hoarding first-party data, and cutting out the middleman to capture fresh revenue. That model is spreading. So too is the adoption of ad-supported streaming as the default for OTT platforms. World Rugby, via the platform WURL, is showcasing exactly how.

    The conference even has a competition worth caring about: “Pitch Perfect Innovation Contest” will see start-ups including Pendular, FalconHQ, and Camb.ai each get three minutes to convince industry heavyweights that their solution deserves backing. And a Women’s Lunch (by invitation) will celebrate female leaders redefining the sport-media nexus—expect Alexis Ohanian from Seven Seven Six, Lauren Pedersen from SportAI, Fiona Wong from the NBA, and marathon world record holder Paula Radcliffe to set the room ablaze.

    The message from all sides is unambiguous: artificial intelligence, cloud technology, and direct fan relationships aren’t the future anymore. They’re the present—and if you’re not moving now, you’re already behind.

  • Fancode kicks off exclusive five-year Laliga partnership in India

    Fancode kicks off exclusive five-year Laliga partnership in India

    MUMBAI: FanCode, India’s go-to sports platform, has clinched a five-year exclusive deal with Laliga, bringing Spanish football’s top-tier action to Indian screens. Starting with this weekend’s high-stakes ElClásico between Real Madrid and Barcelona, FanCode will stream all Laliga EA Sports and Laliga Hypermotion matches — live and in HD.

    The partnership promises wall-to-wall coverage of 380 top-flight Laliga games each season, alongside Laliga Hypermotion fixtures. Fans can catch every match on FanCode’s mobile app, TV app (Android TV, Fire TV, Jio STB, Samsung, LG), and website — all without a hitch.

    Laliga’s star power — featuring football greats like Jude Bellingham, Robert Lewandowski, Vinicius Jr, and Antoine Griezmann — has made it a fan favourite in India. With its clubs already boasting massive followings, from Real Madrid to FC Barcelona, FanCode is poised to expand that popularity with a 360-degree marketing blitz. Expect community events, marquee screenings, social media takeovers, and even player visits to India.

    Laliga president Javier Tebas said: “We are delighted to have FanCode partner with us for the Indian market. At Laliga, we always look for best-in-class partners to deliver Spanish football to fans everywhere. FanCode brings strong local expertise and shares our passion for growing the league’s reach. We look forward to working together over the next five years to bring the best of Spanish football to fans in India.”

    FanCode  cofounder Yannick Colaco added: “We’ve seen first-hand the incredible fan following that Laliga commands in India. With top-tier clubs and world-class players on display, fans can expect high-quality football week in, week out. Our 360-degree approach will ensure a seamless experience across all touchpoints — be it live streaming, engaging with fans to build a strong community or taking the league to new fans. We’re excited to work closely with Laliga to grow the league’s popularity in India.”

    FanCode, which reaches over 160 million sports fans and has logged 50 million app downloads, is already a dominant player in Indian sports streaming, with partnerships across ICC, Formula 1, MotoGP, and more. This new deal with Laliga is set to score big with football fans nationwide.

  • Piracy, LaLiga, BCCI and the Indian government

    Piracy, LaLiga, BCCI and the Indian government

    MUMBAI: LaLiga president Javier Tebas said he is prepared to collaborate with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to stamp out piracy of sports broadcast and streaming signals  in Europe and all over the world.  Speaking at sports and tech conference  Sportel Monaco 2024 on 29 October during a keynote address he addressed his pet subject for the past few years once again: piracy and how big tech is aiding in its spread.

    He pointed that  piracy – especially illegal internet streaming  – is causing huge losses to sports federations, broadcasters, and advertisers with the LaLiga alone losing around Euros 700 million each season.

    His belief is that big tech companies like Google, Cloudflare, X, are actually benefiting from piracy. (He has raised his voice against Google in the past on several forums but he expanded the responsibility towards X and Cloudflare in his latest address during Sportel Monaco.)

    He explained that Google is making money through searches online and on android phones through its ads that pop up during searches for pirated sites by viewers. Downloads of illegitimate apps  on its Playstore give it oodles of money. It has no mechanism – either reactive or otherwise – to tackle piracy.

    Cloudflare is profiting by providing reverse proxy services to pirates and more than 50 per cent of rogue sites are behind it. What’s alarming according to  him is that 70 per cent of delisted content by Google is behind a Cloudflare IP.

    X, he highlighted, is monetising through advertising on pirated streams and has been delaying enforcement by not providing automatic content detection. It does not have a content moderation team, neither is it blocking illegal content on its platform.

    He appealed to sports federations to come together  and raise their voices against big tech. In this regard he extended his hand towards the BCCI welcoming it to come and be a part of the anti-piracy campaign.

    “After football, cricket has a large fan base globally and revenue leakages through piracy could be reduced by making the tech companies  culpable,” he said. “The federations, accompanied by the broadcasters, need to lobby with governments to put in place the proper legislation.”

    Tebas requested governments world over  to pass legislation that would force big tech companies to clamp down on piracy. For the “how of doing it,”  he said, they can turn to Argentina where a federal court ordered Google to block the download and use of a pirate platform Magis TV.  Prior to this, Google had cited its inability to block the android application from being downloaded, but then it was forced to.

    “We need hard measures to be put in place.If we have to stand a chance of reducing the menace of piracy, ” said Tebas in closing. 

  • Sportel Monaco’s exciting conference line up

    Sportel Monaco’s exciting conference line up

    CANNES: The days are being counted down on Sportel Monaco, the leading confab for the sports media, broadcast and technology industry. Scheduled to be held from 28-30  October 2024 in the Grimaldi Forum, it features conference programming capturing the hottest topics and future trends, presented by a new wave of top tier visionaries, star studded businessmen and disruptive innovators, at the heart of a bustling exhibition and market floor – the largest gathering of its kind, bringing together decision makers from the global sports media industry. 
     
    Industry heavyweights including Alibaba Group president & director J. Michael Evans, OBS CEO Yiannis Exarchos, WBD Sports Europe SVP content, production & business operations Scott Young led by Michael R. Payne, will share exclusive insights around “Paris 2024: An Olympic Broadcast & Viewership Success,” which showcased the biggest tech overhaul in decades – never seen at this level at the Olympics. 
     
    Inspiring discussions with footballing legends turned entrepreneurs lead the way, starting with, Kosmos-Kings League Founder  Gerard Piqué who will share exclusive insights about the creation of this competition with a Gen Z focus and how it is disrupting the beautiful game. Marco Materazzi, official ambassador of (GRAS) Blockchain Sports and mentor of the Brazilian reality show “O Grande Jogo” (The Big Game) will talk about how he is helping young boys to develop their football talents and become a part of the sport. The renowned Laliga president  Javier Tebas will share through his highly anticipated Keynote session, how Laliga is leading the change as a top tier sports organisation to fight against audiovisual fraud in the sports media and broadcast industry. 

    Two exciting masterclass topics will be hosted by SportBusiness including, “Behind the Lens: Creating a Successful Sports Docuseries,” diving into the business of creating blockbuster sports docuseries. Revealing the key factors that turn compelling sports narratives into profitable, global entertainment phenomena, will be the PGA Tour (Tom Jeffs), World Athletics (James Lord) and Fremantle (Georgette Schlick), led by SportBusiness’s Callum McCarthy. Following on, SportBusiness’s Imran Yusuf will host the Sportel  spotlight panel, “What’s Next for Cricket as it Continues its Growth Journey?,” both commercially, powered by India, but also still going strong in its historical territories, notably the UK and Australia and now exploring new exciting territories such as the US, how are fans and digital set to play a key role? Expert panelists include Fox Sports Australia (Nic Goard), Rajasthan Royals, (Jake Lush McCrum) and Quidich (Gaurav Mehta).

    Sponsorship is now the second most important revenue stream for most rights holders and an informative panel, “The Role of Sponsorship Evolving in an Industry Under Pressure to Generate Revenues,” will dive into the different models of sponsorship, whether category exclusive marketing rights, or a broader, more fragmented sponsorship strategy and how brands strategically connect with their target audiences. Sponsorship experts led by Sportel’s  Giovanni Aquilanti will feature Milano Cortina 2026 (Nevio Devide), Fifa, (Marco Nazzari) and Protocol Sports Marketing (Lowell Conn) to complete the line up.

    Opening the conference programme will be podcast pioneers, Unofficial Partner, with its popular sports media podcast series coming to the Sportel stage. “The Bundle Live” will explore the biggest stories of 2024 and the people and companies having the greatest impact on the sports media industry. Expert insights will be shared by Gemba Europe & Middle East (Claire Kelly), EBU, (Glen Killane), OneFootball (Yannick Ramcke) and led by Unofficial Partner’s Richard Gillis.

    Speakers Corner will also play host to a slate of case studies and presentations highlighting the latest technologies and solutions trending for the sports media and broadcast industry, including topics and speakers: “Live Sport Production” (LiveU with EBU/Actua Films); “Building a champions league of MMA” (PFL); “How Fast  is Shaping the Future of Sports Streaming” (WURL with EBU/Nagra and World Rugby); “Maximising a League’s Value Beyond Automafc Producfon” (Spiideo with Svensk Elitfotboll); “First Live Referee Camera in MMA” (Tivio Studio); “Amazon Web Services Innovation in Sport” (AWS with European League of Football); “Future Fans: Engaging Younger Audiences with GenAI” (WSC Sports); “Reality Show the Big Game” (Blockchain Sports with Marco Materazzi); “Revolutionizing Sports Streaming: AI and New Monetisation Innovations” (Harmonic) and “The Opportunities and Vision for Regional Sports: CBC Sports Connect’s Evolufon” (Pixellot with CBC).

    New for 2024, the Innovation Stage will also shine the spotlight not once, but twice on multiple presentations: “Private 5G, Mobile & Ultra Low Latency: Lessons Learned from a Summer in Paris” (Haivision); “Sports ABC – Sports Economy and AI Tech” (ISB with Ztudium) and “Breaking Down The Fan-Centered Formula for Sports Streaming Success” (Infront Lab, whose Activation Engine will be on display throughout masterclasses at Sportel  Monaco for interactive polls and audience Q&A).

    Warming up to the “pitch” session, now a firm highlight at Sportel events, the spotlight will shift to a select group of new Sportel companies that are transforming and revolutionising sports content with AI and other groundbreaking technologies, in this quick-fire pitch, powered by Magnifi. Each “Pitcher” will have just three minutes to present and two minutes Q&A, to impress both the audience and an international panel of judges, with the winners receiving prize money and prestige!

    Another first, is a special event championing women in sports media and innovation, co- sponsored by AWS, with a networking lunch and the panel: “How Women are Driving Innovation in Sports,” featuring awesome ladies led by AWS (Julie Souza), with Formula E (Aarf Dabas), and SailGP (Melissa Lawton) and Sportradar (Diana Ustymenko). Wrapping up on day three, is another first in collaboration with SVG, the “Sports & Generative AI Workshop,” with sessions led by SVG’s Ken Kerschbaumer and George Bevir, plus guest moderator Carlo de Marchis (A guy with a scarf). An interactive discussion between the panelists and audience, will debate the potential role AI will play in everything from rights, advertising, content creation, content distribution, and the fan experience, addressing concerns and opportunities. On stage panelists include AWS (Paul Devlin and Dave Mace), PGA Tour (Scott Gutterman), Veritone (Peter Leeb), Magnifi (Ross Tanner) Spectatr (Shifa Garg), ISB (Ursula Romero), HBS (Johannes Franken) and Tradable Bits (Maurizio Barbieri),
    entwined with lots of audience engagement throughout the morning, wrapping up a truly engaging and innovative Sportel conference programme.

    “Sportel Monaco continues to evolve, with the pulse of the sports media landscape. This year, we are thrilled to welcome an unprecedented number of executive leaders and innovators, sharing their visions on the future of sports media and the technologies that are redefining our industry. In 2024, the focus on emerging trends such as AI and innovations for broadcast, demonstrates how Sportel remains at the forefront of innovation. Our goal is to provide participants with an environment where they can not only discover these technologies and trends, but also engage with the minds shaping the future of global sports.” said Sportel Monaco executive director Loris Menoni.

  • Sportel Monaco 2024: back with a bang

    Sportel Monaco 2024: back with a bang

    MUMBAI: Less than a fortnight from now,  sports media and tech executives from all over the world will be flying into Nice, France to get to the lovely principality of Monaco. The occasion: Sportel, Monaco, which is being held from 28-30 October 2024 in the famed Grimaldi Forum.

    They will spend the three days will be spent  hobnobbing, networking, exchanging ideas and doing deals as Sportel hosts industry leaders for three days of conferences, and exhibitions centred around the most important market floor for sports media.

    Sportel Monaco is expected to attract influential industry players, such as the legendary Laliga president, Javier Tebas and for the first time following the broadcast success of Paris 2024, OBS CEO  and OCS  executive director Yiannis Exarchos, Alibaba group director & president J. Michael Evans, among many more, to discuss the key trends and innovations shaping the future of sports media. A rich programme of expert masterclasses and case study presentations, plus a new sports and generative AI workshop in collaboration with SVG, will complement the business activities and meetings throughout the three-day event. 

    “I am committed to upholding the high standards of excellence that have always defined our event. This year is already shaping up to be a great success, with the exhibition space nearly sold out and the addition of a new conference innovation stage to accommodate an even richer programme,” said Sportel Monaco executive director Loris Menoni.”More new features are coming before the event begins, including an inspiring women’s Lunch, to shape the world of business and beyond. I am excited to welcome our community back to Monaco for what promises to be an exceptional event.”  

    According to data on the Sportel Monaco website, more than 1,501 participants globally have registered to participate in this year’s edition. Additionally, for the very first time, Indiantelevision.com has partnered with the sports confab and is going to be attending the event.

    Amongst the Indian companies in attendance figure: Citadel Advisory group (Rahul Johri), Quidich (Gaurav Mehta, Jaskaran Singh Bakshi), Rajasthan Royals Sports group (Jake LushMccrum), Spectatr (Richa Singh, Manjush Mangal, Rijul Dutta & Shifa Garg),  MultiTV Tech Solutions (Sandeep Bansal, Varun Mathur, Puneet Kumar & Vikas Somata), FanCode (Mandela Kiran) and Indian Television Dot Com’s India Spark, represented by CEO Khalid Khan.

    And they are all ready for some sporting action – off the pitch, of course.

  • Galaxy Racer brings top European football leagues live to India

    Galaxy Racer brings top European football leagues live to India

    Mumbai: Galaxy Racer (GXR), a transmedia company based in Dubai, will become a hub for European football fans in the Indian subcontinent. The GXR app has started live streaming matches from the Spanish LALIGA, Italian Serie A, Coppa Italia, Supercoppa Italiana, and French Ligue 1 McDonald’s and Ligue 2 BKT, beginning with the 2024/25 season.

    GXR has secured official media rights for these three major European leagues, featuring clubs like FC Barcelona, Real Madrid CF, and Atletico de Madrid in LALIGA for the next six years; AC Milan, Juventus, and Inter Milan in Serie A for four years; and PSG, Olympique de Marseille, and Olympique Lyonnais in Ligue 1 McDonald’s for at least four seasons. GXR is airing matches from these leagues live on a free-to-air basis for fans in the Indian subcontinent, aiming to become the leading football platform in India and changing how fans engage with the sport.

    As part of this partnership, GXR will stream European football leagues and enhance fan experiences through its Super App, which will include fan engagement tools, news, chat features, and real-money gaming in future updates, creating a football ecosystem for the Indian market.

    Galaxy Racer (GXR) CEO Paul Roy said, “Football is more than a sport; it’s a passion that millions of fans across India consume with great enthusiasm. The appetite for high-quality football content in India is immense, and with GXR’s Super App, we aim to cater to this demand in a way that has never been done before. By streaming LALIGA, Serie A, Ligue 1 McDonald’s and Ligue 2 BKT matches live and free to air, we’re providing millions of fans with unparalleled access to world-class football. Through our expertise in key areas like licensing, content creation, esports, influencer and talent management, merchandising, and music, we’re offering a truly unique and immersive football experience to the Indian audience.”

    With media rights for three major European football leagues, GXR will become the largest holder of European football rights in India. The content will soon be available in multiple regional languages, including Bengali, Malayalam, and Hindi, allowing GXR to reach key football markets. This multilingual approach is expected to foster greater engagement and loyalty among football fans nationwide.

    LALIGA president Javier Tebas said, “We are thrilled to partner with GXR to bring LALIGA closer to the passionate football fans of India. This innovative platform will connect young fans directly with their idols, creating a more immersive and personal football experience.”

    Lega Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo said, “An exciting and innovative journey begins together with two other great European Leagues, in a country that has already hosted some legends of Italian football such as Del Piero and Materazzi, football stars in the recent past in India. Teaming up with GXR we will bring the excitement of Serie A straight to the hearts of the millions of fans living in this new frontier of football”

    LFP Media CEO Benjamin Morel said, “Our partnership with GXR offers a fresh, dynamic way for young fans in India to experience Ligue 1 McDonald’s and Ligue 2 BKT. Through this innovative platform, we’re bridging the gap between fans and their favorite footballers, creating unforgettable moments and fan interactions.”

    What distinguishes GXR from other platforms is its aim to offer a complete digital experience. As a super app, fans can not only watch their favorite teams but also engage in discussions, participate in real-money gaming, and access exclusive content from influencers and football talent.

    GXR’s partnership with LALIGA, Serie A, and Ligue 1 McDonald’s and Ligue 2 BKT marks a new chapter for football fans in India, combining advanced technology with a fan-first approach to provide access to global football content. The platform’s direct-to-consumer strategy seeks to transform how Indian fans engage with the sport, putting them at the center of the experience.

    To watch live matches and explore this football experience, download the GXR app or visit www.gxr.world.

  • Óscar Mayo leaves LALIGA

    Óscar Mayo leaves LALIGA

    Mumbai: Óscar Mayo Pardo, until now chief executive officer of LALIGA, will leave the organisation in January 2024 to take on new professional challenges.

    Mayo, who held the position of CEO since 2021, made his decision after seven years working for LALIGA. He has been responsible for multiple successes at LALIGA such as the exponential growth of commercial revenues and the signing of key partnerships. One of these was the agreement with CVC, which has brought nearly 2 billion euros into the competition, and he also helped with establishing joint ventures in China, MENA and the United States.  

    In the words of LALIGA president Javier Tebas, “Óscar has performed excellently in every position he’s held at LALIGA and his work has contributed substantially to the major milestones achieved in recent years”.

    With the departure of Mayo, LALIGA, which has spent weeks preparing for this transition, will reorganise its management structure and appoint Jorge de la Vega, who was previously the deputy CEO.

    De la Vega, who joined LALIGA three years ago, has also served as Commercial and Marketing Director, achieving 130% growth in the areas under his management, as well as being responsible for accomplishments such as signing with title sponsor EA Sports .

    In addition to his experience with LALIGA, he spent more than 12 years in various management positions within the marketing department at Real Madrid C.F., giving him a global vision of the industry, which is essential for his new role.

    To further strengthen the management team, LALIGA appoints Juan Vicente Marín as deputy CEO. Marín, with over six years of experience at LALIGA, and until now held the position of CEO of LALIGA ENTERTEINMENT, where LALIGA is already preparing his replacement.

    Both Jorge de la Vega and Juan Vicente Marín will be part of LALIGA’s Executive Committee upon their appointments and between them they will occupy the positions held by Mayo in LALIGA’s subsidiary companies. Furthermore, Marta Alonso, Deputy Director of Corporate General Management, joins the Executive Committee, reinforcing both management divisions. 

  • West Bengal govt and Laliga partner for Football development

    West Bengal govt and Laliga partner for Football development

    Mumbai: Focusing on football development, the Government of West Bengal and Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional ( Laliga), have entered a Memorandum of Understanding to elevate the game through mutual collaborations between India and Spain. Represented by the honourable chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee and president of Laliga, Javier Tebas, the meeting took place in Madrid and will seek to jointly promote football through mutual collaboration.

    In attendance, were the former Indian cricket player, Sourav Ganguly, and chief secretary, Govt of West Bengal, H.K. Dwivedi.  Representatives of the two major Football clubs of West Bengal joined the program: Debasish Dutta, general secretary, of Mohun Bagan Athletic Club & Ishtiaque Ahmed, general secretary of Mohammedan Sporting Club.

    With the objective of collaboration through bilateral relations, the MOU will amplify the flow of knowledge & expertise from  Laliga – the largest football ecosystem in the world – into West Bengal. Utilising shared resources to develop the game, the MOU will also look to develop the game’s grassroots & youth development set-up in West Bengal.

    Amongst the highlights of the groundbreaking understanding of talent identification, infrastructural development & coach education,  Laliga will also explore the development of excellence projects in the region basis mutual agreements with the government of West Bengal. Additionally,  Laliga will also explore opportunities for football administrators, players & coaches from the region to be trained in the  Laliga methodology.

    Looking to build on the rich football heritage linked to West Bengal clubs,  Laliga will additionally, share its technical know-how and expertise to assist football clubs of the State.

    The honourable chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee added: “The signing of MOU between Govt of West Bengal and  Laliga today on 14 September 2023 at Madrid, Spain in the presence of Mohun Bagan Club, East Bengal Club, Mohammedan Sporting Club and our icon Sourav Ganguly, will bring a new glorious chapter for Bengal football. We are on our way to becoming an epicentre of football in India.”

    Laliga president  Javier Tebas said, “We are thrilled to embark on this exciting journey with the Government of West Bengal to elevate football development in the region, taking advantage of the experience we have after more than 90 years leading professional soccer in Spain, and more specifically in the seven years that  Laliga has been in India since opening its office in 2016. This Memorandum of Understanding signifies our commitment to the people of West Bengal as jointly aim to create a self-sustaining football ecosystem, that will nurture talent in line with their rich heritage. Through knowledge sharing and collaboration, we will work towards building a brighter future for Indian football.” 

  • Globe Soccer Awards enters landmark agreement with LaLiga

    Globe Soccer Awards enters landmark agreement with LaLiga

    Mumbai: Globe Soccer, the organisation behind Dubai’s prestigious Globe Soccer Awards, has signed a landmark five-year agreement with Spain’s LaLiga. The partnership represents Globe Soccer’s first collaboration in the European market and will see a LaLiga Awards ceremony held alongside the inaugural Globe Soccer Europe Awards 2024.

    A glittering gala evening featuring the two in-person awards ceremonies will take place at the end of the 2023/24 season in a European city to be announced in the near future.

    The Globe Soccer Europe Awards 2024 are part of Globe Soccer’s new Intercontinental series and will recognise Europe’s top performers – from players, coaches, and clubs to agents, directors, and other stakeholders. With voting conducted by fans, the winners of best men’s player, best women’s player, best club, best coach, and best president in the Globe Soccer Europe Awards 2024, will automatically be nominated for the end-of-year Dubai Globe Soccer Awards 2024, in partnership with Dubai Sports Council, in an initiative called “Road to Dubai”.

    LaLiga Awards, ‘The pride of our fútbol’

    The LaLiga Awards: ‘The Pride of our Fútbol’ meanwhile will recognise the best from Spanish football’s top-flight during the 2023/24 season, with five different categories: the LaLiga EA Sports best player, best coach, best goal, best play, and best U23 player. Votes can be cast on a dedicated website that will combine the selection process for both monthly and annual awards. The website: Feel the power of our Fútbol | LaLiga has launched today and already started the first monthly votes. The awards represent both sporting and social recognition for LaLiga clubs.

    Globe Soccer founder and CEO Tommaso Bendoni said: “Next year will mark a turning point in the evolution of the Globe Soccer brand. Partnering with LaLiga to launch our new European awards, in conjunction with LaLiga’s first international ceremony, is a very proud and exciting moment for us. The European edition of the Globe Soccer Awards will undoubtedly benefit from the participation of LaLiga, one of the most important leagues in the world, and the presence of some of its biggest names. Holding the official LaLiga Awards on the same stage also offers Spanish football a unique platform to reward its best players and showcase its brand on an international level, so everyone is a winner.”

    LaLiga president Javier Tebas said: “LaLiga is undergoing a major transformation and our objective is to continue developing as a collective. One of our goals this season is to create content in more languages and to reach a wider audience. The five-year strategic partnership with Globe Soccer is definitely a move in this direction and to be the first league in Europe to partner with Globe Soccer is an honour”.

    Tebas added: “Partnering with a company that has more than a decade of experience in organising the world’s most reputable football awards ceremonies brings international prestige and visibility to the LaLiga brand and its clubs. This partnership will help to promote our players, our clubs, and our fans, and underlines our shared confidence and commitment in celebrating football’s best talent”.

    First held in 2010, the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai have been attended by many of football’s biggest names.