beIN extends LALIGA rights in Asia-Pacific

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beIN Media Group has extended its exclusive broadcast rights for LALIGA across 11 Asia-Pacific (APAC) markets until the end of the 2026/27 season, including Australia and New Zealand.

This deal ensures that the company’s flagship channel, beIN Sports, will continue to be the home of Spanish football in these regions, covering all 380 LALIGA matches throughout the season. The agreement also marks the return of LALIGA broadcasts to Australia and New Zealand.

Optus Sport held exclusive rights for the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons in Australia but have opted not to extend their original two-year deal beyond its expiry for reasons unknown.

Since 2015, beIN has held the rights to LALIGA in APAC. The extension of this partnership reflects a shared commitment between beIN and LALIGA to grow the sport’s presence in the region.

The deal also includes collaborative efforts to combat audiovisual piracy in Indonesia and Malaysia specifically, aiming to protect the integrity of the sport and its broadcast.

LALIGA President Javier Tebas explained the importance of expanding the league worldwide through this deal.

“At La Liga, we always look for best-in-class partners to deliver Spanish football to fans everywhere. Our relationship with beIN has been essential for us in order to ensure people in APAC to be able to enjoy a unique competition as La Liga to the fullest,” Tebas said in a press release.

“We are sure that the next seasons are going to be unparalleled ones for our fans across the region.”

beIN Media Group CEO Yousef Al-Obaidly expressed his excitement at the new extension.

“We are delighted to extend our contract with LALIGA with two significant multi-year deals across 34 countries,” Al-Obaidly said in a press release.

“As long-term, committed partners of La Liga, we are proud to help Spanish football grow worldwide through our world-class broadcasting and our significant and dependable investment.”

With this deal being secured and announced so close to the season starting, fans across APAC can watch all matches live and on-demand through beIN Sports and its streaming app, beIN Sports CONNECT which is $14.99/month for Australian viewers. It lands back in its original home after two years where LALIGA was a part of Optus Sports’ multi league lineup.

Football West unveils Football Australia Academy

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Image credit: Football West website

Football West has confirmed its excitement about launching the Football Australia Academy for 2025.

The Football Australia Academy will serve talented boys aged 12 to 15, with a primary focus on player development.

It is in line with Football Australia’s new 10-Year National Technical Strategy and is incorporated into the advanced pathway program nationwide.

The Football West-operated Academy has been created with contributions from various levels of football governance and is aimed at preparing young talent for advancement to higher levels, such as the A-League and national representation.

It has received endorsement from the Football Australia Board, national team Head Coaches, as well as the Football West Board and Game Development Committee.

The full-time boys’ program will run alongside Football West’s girls’ NTC program, which has recently produced graduates like Georgia Cassidy, Ruby Cuthbert, and Ischia Brooking who have competed in the A-League Women’s league and earned selections for junior national teams.

Football Australia Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick stated that the Football Australia Academy provides a clear pathway for identifying and developing Australian talent.

“The timing for the Football Australia Academy to be implemented in Western Australia as a full-time program has never been more important,” he said via press release.

“This aligns with the National Technical Strategy and direction with the launch of the Football Australia Academy model integrated with our Member Federations.

“Working with young players, Football West, supported by Football Australia, can create a positive developmental environment for both coaches and players that will assist this cohort in progressing their football journey and continuing the strong record of development in Western Australia.”

Football West CEO Jamie Harnwell mentioned that the new Academy would provide talented boys with the best chance to elevate their game to the highest level.

“Football West is thrilled to launch the Football Australia Academy and we look forward to working directly with Football Australia in developing the next generations of West Australian talent,” he said via press release.

“This wasn’t a decision made lightly but made with the best interests of the game as a whole, both for WA and Australia.

“The Football Australia Academy will operate to enhance the technical skills, tactical understanding and high-performance behaviours of players in WA. There is a clear development focus throughout the program. The Football Australia Academy also allows for the identification and progression of coaches, both those in the program and those with the local clubs.

“The Football Australia Academy will expand opportunities for young players across metropolitan, regional and rural areas, ensuring a broader and more inclusive pathway for talent. This approach is designed to complement, not compete with, local club programs.”

To find out more information about trials, click here.

AC Milan and New York Yankees unveil exclusive lifestyle collection

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Image credit: Christian Pulisic Instagram

AC Milan and the New York Yankees, two of the most famous sports teams globally, have teamed up to launch an exclusive lifestyle collection called the ACM x New York Yankees. The collection includes outerwear, headwear, youth items, and accessories.

Both teams are globally recognised not just for their sporting achievements but also as cultural symbols of huge cities in Milan and New York.

The collection features the iconic logos of both clubs, with sleek designs showcasing the Yankees’ “NY” logo and AC Milan’s red-and-black crest. The items blend Milan’s elegant style with the street-savvy vibe of New York, appealing to a broad international audience.

Fans can purchase the collection at Yankee Stadium, MLB Flagship Store in Manhattan, San Siro Stadium, AC Milan stores, and both of the clubs online store as well as the MLB website.

This collaboration builds on the connection between AC Milan and the Yankees’ ownership group, RedBird Capital Partners, founded by Gerry Cardinale. Yankee Global Enterprises acquired a minority stake in AC Milan in August 2022.

AC Milan CEO Giorgio Furlani emphasised the significance of the collaboration.

“With the introduction of the ACM x New York Yankees collection, we celebrate a unique moment in the history of our two iconic brands… The entirety of this collaboration is an homage to the transcendent impact that the cities of Milan and New York maintain on fashion and culture around the world, and we are eager to see that cross-cultural spirit reflected as people enjoy the collection,” Furlani said in a joint press release.

Yankees President Randy Levine echoed this sentiment.

“The New York Yankees and AC Milan are each synonymous with their respective sports and cities… Bringing them together for this project made sense on so many levels, especially considering how our brands resonate among fans of both sports and fashion,” Levine mentioned in a press release.

“We are also thrilled to deepen the ties between our teams and congratulate those who provided input in the design for making a collection that has style and substance.”

The collection’s standout piece is a varsity jacket, along with other items like t-shirts, hoodies, sweaters, cardigans, and New Era baseball caps and beanies.

Co-branded items such as baseballs, playing cards, and notebooks are also available for both sets of fans.

This is an extremely smart business decision by RedBird Capital Partners who utilise their partnership connection for the first time in the two years it’s been acquired.

Combining two of sports’ most iconic teams and brands from sports that are extremely historic and prestigious is going to be popular amongst not only just the fans of the two clubs but of pop culture where the branding is seen in everyday streetwear.

Being from two iconic cities in the world and New York’s very heavy Italian heritage, it capitalises on major markets that will certainly sell these limited edition items in bulk.

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