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Premier Futsal League is looking to monetise the game in a big way in its second edition. From extending its association with Brazilian football player Ronaldinho for another three years, the promoters are also taking the league to Dubai.
It has also roped in international media distribution entity Mediapro to take its media format to seven or eight international markets during the upcoming season.
“We expect the second season to be bigger and better. Premier Futsal has been well structured and we expect it to become a leading sport’s properties in coming year.
The league matches will be played in India, while the finals and semi-final will be played in Dubai. We are looking at increasing our international exposure,” Xavier Britto, Chairman, Premier Futsal, told BusinessLine.
He said the league has associated with Dubai Sports Council to take the tournament to UAE.
Football variant
A variant of football, Futsal is played in a small ground or indoors, between two teams of five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper. The league is governed by the Futsal Association of India (FAI) with accreditation from the international governing body, Asociación Mundial de Futsal (AMF).
The inaugural season of the league had notched 13 million television viewers for the tournament. Besides the promoters, the league been backed by FC Barcelona and Real Madrid legend Luis Figo.
The second season of the league will begin on 15th September and will travel to Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore.
The six teams will play each other 7 times prior to the semi-finals which will also take place in the port city. Sony Pictures Network has the broadcasting right for the league.
In the maiden season, the tournament was broadcasted in United Kingdom, West Asia, Europe, South America and South East Asia regions other than India.
Nithyashree Subban, CFO, Premier Futsal, said the league has also entered into a strategic alliance with Spanish media entity Mediapro to facilitate and create an intellectual property for Premier Futsal globally.
She said the company is also eyeing revenues from the digital business too.
Mediapro will engage in delivering marketing solutions and services along with the production and distribution for all matches in season two.
Additionally, the league promoters have also roped in Kiran Kumar, promoter of Lalitha Jewellery, as a key investor in the independent sporting venture.
Premier Futsal Management Pvt Ltd is a futsal promotions company, and the controlling entity of Premier Futsal, the flagship 3-week event comprising ex-football superstars and home-grown amateur players.
The company comprises President Luis Figo, former 2-time World Player of the Year and Real Madrid legend; Vice- President Alessandro Rosa Viera (a.k.a Falcao), better known as the “Pele of Futsal”; and an investor consortium led by Britto, Chairman, Premier Futsal and Kerry Indev Logistics; and Vimala Britto, Vice-Chairman, Premier Futsal and Chairperson, St.Britto’s Group of Institutions & Seek Foundation.
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