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Tag: UEFA

  • Western Union takes Uefa Europa League presenting sponsorship

    MUMBAI: Western Union, a leader in global payment services, has become the new Global Partner and the Presenting Sponsor of the Uefa (Union of European Football Associations) Europa League, one of the most prestigious football competitions. This sponsorship will commence immediately and run through to the Uefa Europa League Final in 2015.

    This sponsorship of the world’s largest club competition, comprising 193 professional football teams from 53 countries, provides Western Union with a unique opportunity for worldwide brand visibility, with the competition broadcast in more than 200 countries and enjoying an average cumulative audience of 1.3 billion every season1.

    Drawing upon this global reach allows Western Union, with its extensive network of 500,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories, to engage its consumers and Agents around the world in the excitement of the Uefa Europa League.

    The agreement also provides video, digital and social media content opportunities, and use of the Uefa Europa League brand assets.

    Western Union Ventures EVP, CMO and President Diane Scott said, “We are delighted to become the Presenting Partner of the Uefa Europa League. What makes football truly unique is being universal, with an unmatched global appeal. As a brand in 200 countries and territories worldwide, Western Union wants to enable its consumers and Agents to engage in the excitement of the Uefa Europa League, and provide them with opportunities and ways to do so anywhere on the planet.”

    As part of its overall support for the Uefa Europa League, Western Union is developing a comprehensive marketing and communications programme.

  • Gianni Infantino is interim Uefa CEO

    Gianni Infantino is interim Uefa CEO

    MUMBAI: European soccer body Uefa has announced the appointment of Gianni Infantino as its CEO ad interim following the resignation of Lars-Christer Olsson.

    The 36-year old Italian national has been director of Uefa’s legal affairs and club licensing division since January 2004 and has been working at Uefa since August 2000 on a range of legal, commercial and professional football matters.

    Prior to joining Uefa Gianni Infantino worked as the Secretary General of CIES at the University of Neuchâtel, and previously as an adviser to a variety of football bodies, including the Italian, Spanish and Swiss Football Leagues.

    In his position, Infantino has been dealing with all legal disputes submitted to Uefa or in which Uefa is involved, as well as the drawing up of Uefa’s policy on legal matters and Statutes.

    He will hold the position until a permanent replacement has been appointed.

  • Uefa in global licensing deal with Warner

    Uefa in global licensing deal with Warner

    MUMBAI: Just a few weeks after unveiling the new brand identity for the Uefa Champions League for the next three seasons, Uefa has announced plans for a new worldwide multi-category licensing programme in association with Warner Bros Consumer Products.

    A report on Uefa’s site states that the licensed products will support and reflect the image and values of the Uefa Champions League, and will further help to promote the global approach of the competition through their availability via a wide range of distribution channels. The product collections will be comprehensive and will include: watches, eyewear, stationery, writing instruments, travel goods, gifts and men’s accessories.

    Warner Bros Consumer Products has been appointed to manage the licensing programme on a worldwide basis. The first product collection is expected for the coming spring in time for the build-up to the UEFA Champions League final in Athens in May.

    Uefa marketing and media rights director Philippe Le Floc’h says, “The retail roll-out will include an online component to allow fans across the globe to access the new range. With the launch of the new UEFA Champions League identity this season, we were keen to utilise opportunities to maximise the brand visibility.

    “Extending the Uefa Champions League experience into a selective range of quality products that are widely available will bring the Uefa Champions League closer to the fans. We are therefore very happy to be working in collaboration with a partner as experienced in licensing and distribution as Warner Bros Consumer Products.”

    Warner Bros Consumer Products in Europe senior VP, GM Pilar Zulueta says, “This is fantastic news for Warner Bros Consumer Products and UEFA. The UEFA Champions League is one of the most prestigious and recognisable sporting brands in the world and we are confident the range of licensed products will also reflect the prestige and quality of the competition. It is our intention to take a selective licensing approach and to focus on developing the appropriate level of retail distribution and visibility to support the new brand identity.”

  • Uefa wins case against streaming sites

    Uefa wins case against streaming sites

    MUMBAI: Football association Uefa has announced a victory in the High Court in the UK over the illegal streaming of Uefa Champions League matches via the internet.

    Uefa had issued proceedings in March this year in the High Court in England against the owners and operators of a series of websites unlawfully streaming and making available to subscribers television coverage of Uefa Champions League matches.

    The claim alleged infringement of copyright in the broadcasts and all the separate ancillary copyright works included in those broadcasts, namely the UCL music, the UCL on-screen graphics, the sponsored video sequences and the UCL Starball.

    The judge granted summary judgment, issued a permanent injunction restraining the broadcasting of UCL matches over the Internet, ordered the confiscation of all equipment used in the pirating process as well as ordering that the defendants pay the substantial costs of the claim with the precise level of damages to be assessed.

    Uefa CEO Lars-Christer Olsson said, “This is a landmark decision in favour of Uefa and of rights holders everywhere. We see this as a major victory against the unauthourised and illegal streaming of UEFA Champions League matches over the Internet, and therefore a full endorsement for the protection of the rights of the official broadcasters who have purchased the right to show these matches.”

  • Tom Online and Titan Sports join forces on FIFA World Cup coverage

    Tom Online and Titan Sports join forces on FIFA World Cup coverage

    MUMBAI: China’s wireless internet company Tom Online Inc. has entered into an exclusive cooperation with sports newspaper Titan Sports Weekly, to provide joint coverage on this year’s FIFA World Cup. It also includes a range of other long-term initiatives, including the launch of a new sports channel, http://titan.tom.com , on its portal http://www.tom.com.

    In line with Tom Online’s strategy to form unique alliances with key media organisations to broaden its reach to Chinese consumers and share revenue with partners, the strategic cooperation with Titan Sports includes the integration of sports content, wireless Internet technologies and marketing resources to deliver a more compelling sports experience to Chinese consumers.

    Tom Online CEO and executive director Wang Lei Lei said, “I believe that this cooperation between Titan Sports and Tom Online’s forms an integral part of our long-term strategy to provide unparalleled sports content and applications to Chinese consumers, which can be delivered through both mobile devices and the PC, helping to differentiate our services from our competitors and fulfill the growing needs of sports fans in China.”

    Titan Sports president Qu Youyuan said, “I’m very excited about this closer relationship between the two companies. Titan Sports and Tom Online have a successful history of working together on major events such as the Athens Olympic Games and UEFA soccer matches. As an official media organisation in China for this year’s soccer World Cup, Titan Sports is committed to providing soccer fans with the most in-depth, extensive and up-to-date reports on the field, particularly through its online coverage with Tom Online on titan.tom.com.”

    Titan Sports is China’s largest sports newspaper with a weekly circulation of over four million. As a part of the exclusive cooperation arrangement, Titan Sports will provide first hand stories, pictures and audio-visual material to Tom Online for online and wireless Internet users.

    In addition to the alliance with Titan Sports, Tom Online is also an exclusive wireless Internet services partner with CCTV5, which holds exclusive rights to broadcast World Cup matches in China.