FIFPRO and SDL partner to empower player data control

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FIFPRO Technologies, a new division of FIFPRO focused on integrating technology into professional football, has announced a long-term partnership with Sports Data Labs (SDL) to create a global data platform for players.

This initiative will enable footballers to securely collect, control, and monetise their personal data throughout their careers.

It is a huge step forward for football and its athletes having agency over the data their own personal data, which was previously owned by the organisations

Empowering Players with Data Control

The platform, set to launch in 2025, will serve as a centralised repository where players can safely store and manage their personal information, including tracking data, physiological metrics, medical records, and other performance-related statistics.

Data will be gathered from multiple sources such as wearable devices, optical tracking systems, and Electronic Medical Record (EMR) databases.

By giving players direct access to their own data, the platform aims to improve workload management, optimise performance, and support career longevity.

With AI-powered tools, footballers will be able to analyse and utilise their information to enhance their game, reduce injury risks, and even assist in contract negotiations.

Monetisation and Consent-Based Data Sharing

One of the most significant features of this initiative is its focus on data monetisation.

Players will have full control over their data usage, allowing them to decide how their information is shared and commercialised. They will also have the option to participate in revenue-sharing models for third-party data usage.

FIFPRO Technologies, which joins the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) and healthcare provider Cleveland Clinic as an SDL shareholder, is committed to ensuring players remain at the centre of all data-related decisions.

The platform will act as a data aggregator, bringing together match and training statistics from clubs and national teams while also incorporating non-football-related personal data.

Conclusion

This player-focused initiative marks a major shift in how footballers interact with and benefit from their data.

By giving them greater control, the platform not only enhances individual performance but also strengthens the football ecosystem by encouraging transparency, fairness, and innovation in data management.

With players at the forefront of this movement, the partnership between FIFPRO and SDL represents a crucial step towards a more player-driven future in football.

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New Stewarding Academy receives backing from Premier League

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Image credit: Premier League

It is a partnership which sees the Premier League, Capital City College and the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, all unite to create job opportunities and raise stewarding standards across the industry.

 

Football’s forgotten heroes?

Everyone who watches live football will undoubtedly – and unsurprisingly – focus on the people at the heart of the action.

Players, managers, and even other fans all tend to receive the most attention. They are the show people come to see.

But behind every great show, is a team behind the scenes bringing it together, helping when needed, ensuring everything runs smoothly.

Stewards are an ever-present part of the live football experience; highly visible yet easily ignored.

And, as London’s own football industry knows all too well, a lack of stewards can spell trouble for sustaining high-quality and safe live match experiences for fans.

 

Securing development and safety

The partnership between the Premier League and the Mayor of London will see AUD 2.3 million (£1.2 million) invested into the game.

And as the Premier League Chief Policy and Social Impact Officer, Clare Summer outlined, the Academy is essential not only to provide future employment, but to meet current demands.

“There are more than 15 million visits to Premier League stadiums each season, and we work alongside partners and the police to deliver safe and inclusive matchdays across the country,” Summer said.

“Through this partnership, we are providing new employment and training opportunities for thousands of people, contributing to the safe and welcoming environment provided at 380 matches each season.”

Thus, the partnership functions both as a way to engage people with the football industry, while also providing core employment skills and experience.

 

Jobs beyond the pitch

London, much like the rest of the world, is not lacking in fans of the beautiful game.

So considering there is such demand for stewards in the city’s football industry, the Academy marks a logical step to giving people another way of connecting with football.

And the impact goes far beyond sentimental value.

For example, the Premier League strives to improve training and employment opportunities across the UK, supporting up to 104,500 full-time equivalent jobs in the 2023/24 season.

So while the Premier League may require the efforts and skills of thousands of people, it also continues to invest back into the community.

Education, opportunity and trust. All of these are essential aspects to improving the lives of young people looking for a way into football, as well as looking to improve their own lives with purpose and fulfilment.

Chelsea FC partners with Strava in landmark lifestyle partnership

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Image credit: Stock1987 / Shutterstock.com

The London-based giants announced the launch this week, marking a first-of-its-kind partnership for both the Premier League and Women’s Super League (WSL).

Connecting with fans

As clubs across the world look to find new and exciting ways of connecting with fans, Chelsea are showing that the answer – more often than not – already exists.

Strava is a running and fitness platform with over 195 million users across the globe. But the app represents more than just tracking speed – it is a social and lifestyle symbol through which users can connect.

And with presence in 185 countries, the app has the power to unite users from all over the world, making it a perfect fit for the globally-followed Blues.

“We are always looking at ways we can use our global brand to bring people together, often in unexpected ways,” said Brand Director for Chelsea Football Club, Scott Fenton.

“By working with Strava and becoming the first Premier League and BWSL teams to establish an official presence on Strava, we can lean into participation culture, understand where our fans are while offering new experiences for them and strengthen the bonds that unite our global community.”

Two brands with a huge international presence. One partnership which promises to encourage community, movement and healthy-living.

 

The intersection between sport and lifestyle

At first glance, Chelsea FC and Strava appear an unconventional partnership. Indeed, it is the first time a club has established an official presence on the app.

But at its core, the two organisations serve similar purposes: uniting people with a common passion for sport.

At its beginnings in 2009, Strava promised to replicate the feeling of team sports and unlocking new achievements, making a deal with Chelsea FC – one of the world’s most successful teams in recent years – a true full-circle moment.

“Chelsea FC joining Strava as the first Premier League and BWSL team to establish a global club on the platform is a powerful demonstration of how brands are engaging with their communities,” explained Director of Athlete and Community Partnerships at Strava, Mel Jarrett.

“We believe shared passion for movement creates real connections, and this collaboration brings that to life for Chelsea’s global fanbase.”

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