La Liga to add in virtual fans and fake crowd noise

Liam Watson

La Liga has confirmed there will be virtual fans and fake crowd noise when the season restart begins behind closed doors.

Norwegian firm Vizrt have collaborated with the Spanish top-flight to bring stadiums to life. Fake supporters can be seen in the stands wearing their team’s colours and to-scale images can be turned into a canvas and will show institutional messages.

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Crowd noise will be taken directly from EA Sports’ FIFA franchise, with La Liga being exclusively licensed in the latest instalment FIFA 20. Audio from the game can be placed in La Liga broadcasts in response to any key moments – whether it be a goal, foul or card.

These changes will help add some form of realism until fans are allowed back. Those supporters in Spain do have the option to turn off the fake noise if they choose.

La Liga president Javier Tebas believes these innovations can make games more attractive and exciting to watch, offering the best case scenario for atmosphere without fans in attendance.

“We have made these broadcasting changes so fans can enjoy La Liga,” said La Liga president Javier Tebas.

“We work with global partners to offer a great viewer experience. We are in an exceptional situation, but for us it has been important to be able to adapt and offer a compelling, cutting-edge broadcast to our fans.”

Without fans comes a time for a little experimentation. There will be new camera angles where some cameras will go to areas that would’ve obstructed the view of supporters. The aerial camera will move in different paths to capture fresh shots with the bench camera moved to the opposite stand. As a precaution, tunnel camera duties will be replaced by robotic ones for extra health and safety.

The Spanish top-flight will be the second of Europes’ major leagues to restart their seasons, after the German Bundesliga got underway again almost a month ago.

La Liga returns with virtual fans when Sevilla host derby rivals Real Betis on June 12. Second-tier La Liga SmartBank resumes a day earlier, where Rayo Vallecano take on Albacete.

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Arsenal Secures Exciting New Deal with Paramount+

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Image credit: Maciej Rogowski / Shutterstock.com

Arsenal FC has unveiled a global partnership with Paramount+, drawing the major streaming service further into top-tier football as the race for fan engagement intensifies across sport and entertainment.

The deal makes Paramount+ an Official Partner of the club, embedding the platform’s branding and content across Arsenal’s matchday experience and digital channels throughout the 2025/26 campaign.

The agreement highlights a broader industry shift, with major entertainment platforms turning to leading football clubs to expand global visibility, drive subscriber growth and place their brands at the centre of highly engaged fan communities.

The collaboration will see Paramount+ integrated throughout matchdays, including in-stadium branding, big-screen presence, programme features and themed activations at both men’s and women’s games. The platform will also be showcased across select retail and digital fan-experience channels.

Executive Vice President and International General Manager of Paramount+, Marco Nobili emphasised the shared global reach and enthusiasm behind the collaboration.

“We’re beyond excited to unite Paramount+ and Arsenal– two global iconic brands with supporters that live and breathe passion,” he said via Official Club media release.

Arsenal’s Chief Commercial Officer, Juliet Slot underscored how the strategic collaboration enhances the club’s commercial strength and fan experience.

“We’re delighted to welcome Paramount+ into our Arsenal family. They’re a world-class, global entertainment brand, and we’re so excited to work together and create new ways for our supporters to feel even closer to the club. Their expertise, creativity and investment strengthen our ability to deliver outstanding experiences for our supporters and supports our ambition to compete for major trophies,” she said via Official Club media release.

Paramount+ will tap into Arsenal’s strong social media presence, especially on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram to share content aligned with key releases during the 2025/26 season. The initial activation, centred on the new season of Landman, will showcase first-team players alongside influencer Sharky, Eberechi Eze, William Saliba, and Gabriel Martinelli.

Shake2Go by Optislim Named Major Sponsor of Oakleigh Cannons

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Image credit: Oakleigh Cannons FC

Shake2Go, by Optislim, has been named major partner of the Oakleigh Cannons for the 2026 season, with the brand to feature prominently on the front of the club’s playing shirt. The sponsorship brings together a fast-growing Australian nutrition brand and one of the country’s most respected grassroots football clubs.

Meet Shake2Go – Australia’s first high protein + vitamins shake packed into a can . Each ready-to-drink can delivers 30g of premium protein, essential vitamins and minerals, is low in sugar, gluten-free, and packaged in eco-friendly cans. No mixing. No mess. No compromise. Just grab, shake, and go. With its smooth, milkshake-like taste, it delivers proper nutrition without slowing anyone down.

“We’re proud to welcome Shake2Go by Optislim as our major sponsor for the 2026 season,” said Aki Ionnas, General Manager of the Oakleigh Cannons. “To have such an innovative brand on the front of our shirt is a major endorsement of our club. This sponsorship is about more than logos  it’s a real investment into our players, our programs, and our wider community. At a grassroots level, that kind of support makes a genuine difference.”

The sponsorship will directly support player development, community programs, and the ongoing operations of the club. Shake2Go will have a strong presence across matchdays, community events, and player initiatives throughout the season.

At its core, this sponsorship reflects shared values of performance, wellbeing, and giving back to the football community that helps shape the future of the game.

For more information on Shake2Go, click here.

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