IMG takes commercial lead on inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup

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Image Credit: Vietnam Football Federation

IMG has been appointed to lead the global commercialisation of the inaugural FIFA ASEAN Cup, giving the new Southeast Asian national-team competition an established international sports business partner ahead of its first edition.

Under the strategic partnership, IMG will manage worldwide media and sponsorship rights sales while also overseeing broadcast production for the tournament, which takes place from 24 September to 5 October across Indonesia and Hong Kong, China.

The inaugural competition will feature 14 national teams, including all 11 ASEAN members alongside guest nations, with matches split between two divisions. Division 2 fixtures will be played in Jakarta and Badung, while Division 2 matches will be played in Hong Kong.

The agency’s role will include selling sponsorship and media inventory internationally while helping establish the broadcast infrastructure required to present the tournament to audiences outside Southeast Asia.

The partnership builds on IMG’s existing strategic relationship with PT Garuda Sepak Bola Indonesia, which has been working with the Football Association of Indonesia since 2025 on areas including commercial strategy, media rights, production and digital development.

For FIFA, the tournament creates another international football property in a region with a large and increasingly connected football audience.

For IMG, it adds another major regional property to a football portfolio that already includes competitions and organisations across Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

The immediate challenge will be turning the inaugural tournament into a sustainable commercial property capable of attracting broadcasters and sponsors beyond its first edition.

If successful, the FIFA ASEAN Cup could provide Southeast Asian national teams with a recurring commercial platform while giving IMG another foothold in one of football’s developing markets.

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Soceroos and Matildas sue Football Australia over financial dispute

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Image Credit: Football Australias

Players of the Socceroos and Matildas have launched legal action against Football Australia over a multi-million dollar dispute relating to their revenue-sharing agreement in the NSW Supreme Court.

According to the Australian Associated Press (AAP), the players’ union, Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), are enacting on behalf of the players and are understood to be pursuing a seven figure claim.

The PFA is expected to argue the revenue-sharing agreement between the governing body and national team players is not being fulfilled properly.

The PFA is yet to comment.

But the FA has acknowledged the legal dispute, claiming it is in relation to, “a third party in connection with a separate matter currently being conducted before the National Dispute Resolution Chamber (NDRC)”.

‘The Supreme Court’s role is limited to the subpoena process, and its involvement ends once that process is complete,’ an FA spokesperson said.

‘As the NDRC matter is ongoing and subject to confidentiality obligations, Football Australia will not comment further,’ they stated.

In 2023, a collective bargaining agreement was signed between the players’ union and FA. It gave the Socceroos and Matildas stars a portion of the national teams revenue which contributes up to half of FA’s overall earnings.

Additionally, the agreement included incentives for players and FA to work together, allowing both sides the chance to reap even larger rewards.

Registration fees or sponsors for programs that fund grassroots football are strictly prohibited in relation to the players’ cut of revenue. 

However, as long as it relates to the national team the players receive an 18-20 per cent portion of all relevant finances. This could include ticketing, kit sales, broadcast or sponsorship contracts. Through the CBA this money makes its way back to the players.

Matildas icon Lisa De Vanna, who played 150 times for the national team from 2004-19 has already made her opinion heard on there lawsuit via X.

“1 of the best-paid teams in the world, w best elite environments: 40 personal staff,business flights,5 star hotels, private chefs N baristas n still not happy,” she said.

“Instead of knocking game when it’s at its lowest, maybe play for pride n not greed.”

The disagreement comes just before the Socceroos head to the Middle East during the November international break.

With the squad set to be announced later this week, the ill-feeling between players and the governing body will hopefully remain separate from the performances on the pitch.

Illegal streaming concerns raised as drone halts Arsenal, Fleetwood Town fixture

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Image Credit: Getty Images

Arsenal and Fleetwood Town’s Carabao Cup match was stopped for approximately eight minutes on Tuesday after a drone was seen above the League Two side’s stadium.

Referee Michael Salisbury stopped the game less than two minutes in as a drone was spotted flying above the pitch. After halting play and explaining the situation to the mangers, the players tried to stay warm as fans booed during during the eight minute interval.

Since the 2023-24 season the English Football League (EFL) has had a policy on drones. Besides the obvious safety concerns, there is also the chance of the match being funnelled to illegal streams. This chance of a stain blemishing the ‘product’ is taken extremely seriously.

In response to the situation The Football Association (FA) stated, ‘The referee should stop the game and advise both team captains and managers that play will not continue until the drone has passed, or left the vicinity of the players and spectators.’

If the drone doesn’t leave, the guidelines suggest both teams return to the changing rooms to await a decision moving forward. During and after an incident with a drone at a game, the club are guided to work closely with local law enforcement and match officials. These engagements are to determine whether the drone posses any public safety concerns or if it is being used with criminal intent.

The game was promptly resumed after the drone left the vicinity and returned to the ground at a nearby housing estate. 

Fleetwood Town, who sit 18th in League Two, went on to produce the biggest result in their club history to knock the Premier League champions out of the cup on penalties. 

According to Sky Sports, Lancashire Police have since seized a drone that they believed was flying over the ground and have taken a man into questioning. The legal outcome will shortly follow, but the EFL have made a strong indirect statement on how much they value their product and the rights to it.

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