You are here

  • Home
  • IMG signs 5-year deal to become broadcast producer of Saudi football events

IMG signs 5-year deal to become broadcast producer of Saudi football events

IMG signs 5-year deal to become broadcast producer of Saudi football events
The Saudi Pro League and Saudi Arabian Football Federation have agreed a new five-year production-partnership deal with global sports, events and representation company IMG. (X/ @AlNassrFC File)
Short Url

https://arab.news/9sbfv

Updated 13 August 2024
Arab News
Follow

IMG signs 5-year deal to become broadcast producer of Saudi football events

IMG signs 5-year deal to become broadcast producer of Saudi football events
  • The partnership with the Saudi Pro League and Saudi Arabian Football Federation will start next season and cover Roshn Saudi League, Saudi Super Cup and King Cup matches
  • ‘The SPL is poised to deliver an unparalleled football-viewing experience to fans around the world through technology, innovation and talent,’ says SPL CEO Omar Mugharbel
Updated 13 August 2024
Arab News
Follow

RIYADH: The Saudi Pro League and Saudi Arabian Football Federation have agreed a new five-year production-partnership deal with global sports, events and representation company IMG.
Beginning next season IMG will take the role of broadcast producer for the Roshn Saudi League, King Cup and Saudi Super Cup, with the aim of providing best-in-class production quality, innovation and consistency across the events.
The organizations said on Wednesday said that broadcasts in coming seasons will feature more dynamic storytelling and captivating content highlighting the excitement of the matches and celebrating the culture and passion that drive the sport.
This will enable partners to provide deeper insights and elevate the levels of engagement and entertainment, they added, to enhance the viewing experience for fans around the world and foster a deeper connection with the league.
SPL CEO Omar Mugharbel said the agreement represents a significant step forward for the league as its transformation and growth continues on and off the pitch.
“Our collaboration with IMG reflects our commitment to bringing world-class production standards to Saudi football, with the league the central host producer,” he added.
“By leveraging the expertise of IMG and maintaining strong partnerships with local and regional distributors, the SPL is poised to deliver an unparalleled football-viewing experience to fans around the world through technology, innovation and talent.”
Barney Francis, IMG’s executive vice president of studios, said: “The Saudi Pro League is one of the most exciting and fastest-growing leagues in global football, with fans around the world now tuning in to watch thrilling action between some of the game’s biggest stars.
“In today’s battle for attention, it’s critical for rights holders to take control of their narrative and innovate. We are excited to help SPL take its content offering and storytelling to the next level for viewers and broadcasters, and to provide opportunities for local broadcast and production talent to be part of the journey.”
The organizations said IMG will help the SPL and SAFF implement advanced remote-production technologies so that producers can oversee matches taking place in several cities on the same day and ensure the highest production standards are maintained regardless of location.
IMG produces content for some of the world’s biggest football leagues and other sporting events, including the English Premier League, Major League Soccer for Apple TV, CBS coverage of the UEFA Champions League and Europa League, Ultimate Fighting Championship, and golf events including The Open, Ryder Cup and the DP World Tour.

Topics: Roshn Saudi League (RSL) Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) IMG SPL

Related

SPL unveils exciting 2024-25 RSL fixtures list
Saudi Sport
SPL unveils exciting 2024-25 RSL fixtures list
SPL outlines priorities for player acquisitions, club development before new season
Football
SPL outlines priorities for player acquisitions, club development before new season

Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans

Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans
Updated 18 November 2024
AP
Follow

Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans

Tottenham midfielder Bentancur banned 7 games, fined $126,000 for offensive comment on South Koreans
  • The English Football Association also ordered Bentancur to attend a ‘face-to-face education program’
Updated 18 November 2024
AP

LONDON: Uruguay midfielder Rodrigo Bentancur was banned for seven matches on Monday for making an offensive comment about South Koreans in relation to a remark about Tottenham teammate Son Heung-min.
The English Football Association said in a statement that an independent commission also imposed a £100,000 ($126,000) fine on the player. The sanction can be appealed.
The suspension only covers domestic matches, meaning that the 27-year-old Bentancur will be available to play for his London club in the Europa League. Spurs take on Roma in the league phase of the tournament on Nov. 28.
Appearing on a Uruguayan television show in June, Bentancur was asked for a Tottenham player’s jersey and replied, “Sonny’s?” He added it could be Son’s cousin, too, because “more or less they are all the same.”
Bentancur later apologized to Son on Instagram, saying it was a “very bad joke” and he would “never disrespect you or hurt you.”
Son accepted the excuses, saying that his teammate had made a mistake and “would not mean to ever intentionally say something offensive.”
“We are brothers and nothing has changed at all,” Son said in June. "We’re past this, we’re united, and we will be back together in preseason to fight for our club as one.”
Bentancur was charged by the English FA in September because he was alleged to have “acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words and/or brought the game into disrepute.”
The FA said it constituted an aggravated breach because it included “reference to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
The FA also ordered Bentancur to attend a “face-to-face education program”, details of which will be provided later. The course should be completed by March 11 next year.
“If the player fails to complete the program satisfactorily in that period, he will be immediately suspended from all domestic club football until such time as the mandatory program is completed,” the FA said.
Tottenham and Bentancur did not immediately react to the punishment.

Topics: football Tottenham Hotspur Rodrigo Bentancur

Related

Son says Spurs team-mate Bentancur ‘almost cried’ over alleged racial slur
Sport
Son says Spurs team-mate Bentancur ‘almost cried’ over alleged racial slur
Tottenham midfielder Bentancur charged by FA after offensive comment about South Koreans
Sport
Tottenham midfielder Bentancur charged by FA after offensive comment about South Koreans

Harry Kane sparks England rout against Ireland and Nations League promotion

Harry Kane sparks England rout against Ireland and Nations League promotion
Updated 18 November 2024
AP
Follow

Harry Kane sparks England rout against Ireland and Nations League promotion

Harry Kane sparks England rout against Ireland and Nations League promotion
  • England won their group on goal difference ahead of second-placed Greece, who beat Finland 2-0
  • After five wins from six games, Carsley will now return to his permanent role as head coach of England’s under 21s
  • Erling Haaland leads the Nations League scoring charts after hitting a hat trick in Norway’s 5-0 win against Kazakhastan in Group B3
Updated 18 November 2024
AP

LONDON: Harry Kane’s 69th international goal sparked a second-half scoring spree that fired England back to the top tier of the UEFA Nations League on Sunday.

In temporary head coach Lee Carsley’s final game in charge, a 5-0 win against Ireland secured promotion and ensured England will be back among Europe’s leading nations in the next edition of the competition.

“I wanted the England team to be exciting to watch and attacking,” Carsley said. “I see them do it day in, day out on the training ground. And now we’ve seen it (on the field).”

England won their group on goal difference ahead of second-placed Greece, who beat Finland 2-0.

Kane’s 53rd-minute penalty at Wembley was a record-extending goal for his country after Liam Scales brought down Jude Bellingham in the box and was sent off for a second yellow card offense.

Within five minutes England were 3-0 up through Anthony Gordon in the 55th and Conor Gallagher in the 58th.

Substitute Jarrod Bowen made an immediate impact, scoring with his first touch in the 75th and Taylor Harwood-Bellis, making his debut, headed in another four minutes later.

“A really important win for us,” Kane said. “It was a tough first half, but we came out second half with a lot more energy and we finished it off.”

England, who are set to welcome new head coach Thomas Tuchel in January, needed to match Greece’s result to top Group B2.

Anastasios Bakasetas had put Greece ahead in the 52nd in Finland, with Kane’s England opener coming a minute later.

Christos Tzolis scored the second for Greece, which faces a playoff to try to win promotion.

After five wins from six games, Carsley will now return to his permanent role as head coach of England’s under 21s. Tuchel begins in January and will lead the campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

He should have plenty of options when he selects his first squad after Carsley handed debuts to eight players during his short reign.

In his final game, Gordon, Gallagher, Bowen and Harwood-Bellis all scored their first senior goals for England.

“Lee has achieved the main objective from the six fixtures this autumn: securing promotion back to the top tier of the Nations League,” English Football Association CEO Mark Bullingham said. “The players have really enjoyed working with Lee and his team – they have made a real impact in their interim roles.”

Rabiot double

Adrien Rabiot scored two goals as France beat Italy 3-1 to win Group A2.

Both teams had already secured their places in the quarterfinals before the match in Milan, but France needed to win by at least two goals to take top spot.

“It’s been a while since we’ve played a match like that, fighting all together,” Rabiot told French television channel TF1. “The aggressiveness that we showed, our team spirit, that should all be highlighted. That is the real face of the France team.”

Rabiot headed the visitors in front just inside two minutes.

France shocked San Siro into silence in the 33rd when Lucas Digne curled in a magnificent free kick from 25 yards that went into the top left corner via the underside of the bar and Guglielmo Vicario. It went down as an own-goal from the Italy goalkeeper, who was a late replacement after Gianluigi Donnarumma fell ill with a stomach bug.

Italy pulled a goal back two minutes later when Andrea Cambiaso volleyed past Mike Maignan.

But Rabiot grabbed his second in the 65th with another header — the sixth goal in a row Italy has conceded from set plays.

While the match had started with the Italy fans booing the French anthem, it finished with France supporters proudly singing the same song in triumph.

It was the first time Italy had lost a home game by two or more goals since 1983, according to soccer statistician Opta.

Also in the group, No. 6-ranked Belgium fell to a surprise 1-0 loss against Israel, ranked 81st. Yarden Shua’s goal settled the game, which was held in Budapest, Hungary, in the 86th. Israel were relegated to League B despite the win.

Belgium must now face a playoff to try to avoid relegation.

Haaland hat trick

Erling Haaland leads the Nations League scoring charts after hitting a hat trick in Norway’s 5-0 win against Kazakhastan in Group B3.

The Manchester City striker took his total to seven goals and is two clear of Viktor Gyokeres, Cristiano Ronaldo and Benjamin Sesko, who are all tied on five.

Norway were promoted to the top tier, ahead of second-place Austria, who drew 1-1 with Slovenia.

Topics: UEFA Nations League England Harry Kane Ireland

Related

Ronaldo shines as Portugal rout Poland to reach Nations League last-eight
Sport
Ronaldo shines as Portugal rout Poland to reach Nations League last-eight
Leweling rockets Germany past Dutch and into Nations League quarterfinals
Sport
Leweling rockets Germany past Dutch and into Nations League quarterfinals

Kosovo FA say they warned UEFA about possible provocation by Romania fans

Kosovo FA say they warned UEFA about possible provocation by Romania fans
Updated 16 November 2024
Reuters
Follow

Kosovo FA say they warned UEFA about possible provocation by Romania fans

Kosovo FA say they warned UEFA about possible provocation by Romania fans
  • The match was initially suspended before being abandoned when the Kosovo team refused to return to the pitch
  • UEFA had said it would communicate “further information in due course“
Updated 16 November 2024
Reuters

BUCHAREST: The Football Federation of Kosovo (FFK) said it had repeatedly warned European soccer’s governing body UEFA about potential provocation from Romania fans ahead of Friday’s Nations League match, which was abandoned when Kosovo’s players walked off.
The game in Bucharest was abandoned in stoppage time after the visiting players left the field with the score at 0-0 when they heard pro-Serbia chanting from the home fans.
The match was initially suspended before being abandoned when the Kosovo team refused to return to the pitch. UEFA had said it would communicate “further information in due course.”
“Cries such as ‘Kosovo is Serbia’ and ‘Serbia, Serbia’, whistling during the singing of the national anthem of Kosovo, throwing hard objects ... and other offensive and provocative actions were present throughout the match, creating an unacceptable atmosphere not safe for our players,” the FFK said in a statement.
“FFK had warned the relevant UEFA bodies more than twice in writing about the possibility of such actions, once a few days before the match and then a few minutes before it started.
“Despite these warnings, the Romanian fans continued with irresponsible and discriminatory behavior, forcing the Kosovo national team to leave the field due to the lack of safety and dignity.”
The FFK also alleged that a Romania official “threatened and assaulted” a Kosovo player in the corridors of the stadium.
“For all these serious violations, FFK has immediately reported the incidents to the match delegate and has started preparing a full complaint with facts and evidence that will be submitted to UEFA’s disciplinary bodies,” it added.
Reuters has contacted UEFA for comment.
The Romanian Football Federation was fined by UEFA last year over pro-Serbia chanting and the display of a banner reading “Kosovo is Serbia” by supporters during a Euro 2024 qualifier between the countries at the National Arena.
Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008 and has been recognized by more than 100 countries, but not Romania.

Topics: UEFA Nations League Romania UEFA Serbia Kosovo #SND2024

Related

Kosovo players walk off in Romania game after ‘Serbia’ chants
Sport
Kosovo players walk off in Romania game after ‘Serbia’ chants
North Kosovo ethnic tensions remain risk for violence, NATO official says
World
North Kosovo ethnic tensions remain risk for violence, NATO official says

Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura says he will play next season at age 58

Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura says he will play next season at age 58
Updated 16 November 2024
AP
Follow

Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura says he will play next season at age 58

Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura says he will play next season at age 58
  • Miura will turn 58 in February
  • He intends to play next season for his fourth-tier Japanese club, Suzuka
Updated 16 November 2024
AP

TOKYO: Japanese football player Kazuyoshi Miura is several generations older than his teammates. His contemporaries retired decades ago. Lionel Messi is 37, and Cristiano Ronaldo is 39 — mere youngsters compared to Miura.
Miura will turn 58 in February, and the Japanese news agency Kyodo reported this week that he intends to play next season for his fourth-tier Japanese club, Suzuka. It will be his 40th season playing in professional football.
Miura is widely listed as the oldest active professional football player.
Miura scored 55 goals in 89 appearances and was a star with Japan’s national team in the 1990s.
He has played professionally in Brazil, Italy, Croatia, Australia and Portugal. He made his debut in 1986 with Brazilian club Santos, a side made famous by Brazilian star Pele.

Topics: Japan Kazuyoshi Miura

Related

Kazuyoshi Miura, 56, makes football history
Football
Kazuyoshi Miura, 56, makes football history
Pogba and Juventus end contract mutually before he returns from doping ban
Sport
Pogba and Juventus end contract mutually before he returns from doping ban

Japan beat Indonesia 4-0 to extend group lead in Asian World Cup qualifying

Japan beat Indonesia 4-0 to extend group lead in Asian World Cup qualifying
Updated 16 November 2024
AP
Follow

Japan beat Indonesia 4-0 to extend group lead in Asian World Cup qualifying

Japan beat Indonesia 4-0 to extend group lead in Asian World Cup qualifying
  • Japan tops the group on 13 points with five games remaining in the round.
  • Australia, Saudi Arabia and China all have 6 points, followed by Bahrain with five and Indonesia with 3
Updated 16 November 2024
AP

JAKARTA: Japan defeated Indonesia 4-0 on Friday to move seven points clear at the top of Group C in the third round of Asian qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Two goals in each half mean the Samurai Blue stays on course for an eighth successive World Cup appearance.
After a bright start from the home team, the 78,000 fans at a sold-out Gelora Bung Karno Stadium were silenced after 35 minutes as Daichi Kamada broke down the left and sent a cross which defender Justin Hubner put into his own net from close range.
Takumi Minamino then scored from inside the area off Kaoru Mitoma’s pass to extend the lead five minutes before the break.
Hidemasa Motira took advantage of an errant pass from Indonesia’s goalkeeper to make it 3-0 early in the second half and Yukinari Sugawara rounded out the scoring in the 69th minute.
Japan tops the group on 13 points with five games remaining in the round. Australia, Saudi Arabia and China all have six points, followed by Bahrain with five and Indonesia with three.
The top two from each of the three groups will be guaranteed a place at the World Cup, with the third- and fourth-place teams progressing to the next stage.
 

Topics: 2026 World Cup

Related

Green Falcons arrive in Jakarta for World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia
Sport
Green Falcons arrive in Jakarta for World Cup Asian qualifier against Indonesia
Pogba and Juventus end contract mutually before he returns from doping ban
Sport
Pogba and Juventus end contract mutually before he returns from doping ban

Latest updates

Saudi minister highlights nation’s leadership in digital innovation and AI during G20 Summit
Saudi minister highlights nation’s leadership in digital innovation and AI during G20 Summit
North Korean leader Kim met Russian minister Alexander Kozlov, KCNA reports
North Korean leader Kim met Russian minister Alexander Kozlov, KCNA reports
Canada foiled Iran plot to assassinate former justice minister
Canada foiled Iran plot to assassinate former justice minister
What does Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use longer-range US weapons mean?
What does Biden’s decision to allow Ukraine to use longer-range US weapons mean?
Trump appears to be planning to attend SpaceX ‘Starship’ launch scheduled for Tuesday in Texas
Trump appears to be planning to attend SpaceX ‘Starship’ launch scheduled for Tuesday in Texas

Search form

Print Edition
Read pdf version Subscribe now
© 2024 SAUDI RESEARCH & PUBLISHING COMPANY, All Rights Reserved And subject to Terms of Use Agreement.