E-Sports: FIFA New Policy
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
The popularity and global appeal of E-Sports and Video Games continues apace and, in fact, FIFA, the world governing body of association football, is “bullish” and “optimistic” about their long-term future in relation to football, following a strategic assessment of this “exciting” and expanding market.
As a result, FIFA is adopting a new policy to benefit all football stakeholders and this will involve more than one party controlling and exploiting all the corresponding rights.
This means an end to a thirty-year exclusive ‘partnership’ with Electronic Arts.
Technology and mobile companies are now competing actively to associate themselves with FIFA, its platforms and global tournaments, especially the men’s and women’s FIFA World Cups.
Accordingly, FIFA is engaging with developers, investors and analysts to provide the best possible experiences and offerings for football fans and consumers.
FIFA considers that it owes a duty to support its 211 member associations for them to capitalise on the opportunities in the E-Sports and Gaming fields.
As part of this strategy, FIFA is organising skill-based E-Sports tournaments under the FIFAe competition structure and consumer brand, which it has recently launched. For example, the FIFAe Continental Cup 2021, which will take place between 29 October and 7 November. For details log onto ‘www.fifa.gg/c/fecc21’.
All of this is very exciting for ‘the beautiful game’!
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
