Soccer-Hisense becomes first sponsor for FIFA's Club World Cup (updated)

Hisense Home Appliances

30/10/2024 11:54

(Adds details of tournament format, teams qualified in
paragraphs 7-8)
    By Rohith Nair
       Oct 30 (Reuters) - Chinese electronics manufacturer
Hisense  000921.SZ  has signed on as the first official partner
for next year's FIFA Club World Cup, global soccer's governing
body said on Wednesday.
    Financial details of the partnership were not disclosed but
Hisense will receive Video Assistant Referee (VAR) branding
during the expanded 32-team competition set to take place in the
United States from June 15-July 13.
    The multinational company, with its headquarters in
Shandong, first became a FIFA sponsor in 2017.
    "We are delighted to welcome Hisense, a global
market-leading brand, as an official partner of the FIFA Club
World Cup 2025," FIFA President Gianni Infantino said at the
partnership launch in Shanghai.
    FIFA also expects to announce more sponsorship deals in the
coming weeks.
    FIFA's Club World Cup will be played every four years but it
immediately drew the ire of European leagues.
        Once a small tournament with seven teams, FIFA has been
criticised for adding more matches -- including group and
knockout stages -- to an already congested calendar, taking a
heavy physical and mental toll on players.
        Twelve European clubs will take part next year and play
at least three games. Champions League winners Real Madrid,
Manchester City and Chelsea, and European giants such as Bayern
Munich, Inter Milan and Juventus have qualified.
  
    Ballon d'Or winner Rodri had warned of a player strike last
month over the packed schedule, as a report published by
players' union FIFPRO said some players get as little as 12% of
the year to rest.
    FIFA announced the launch of a task force on player welfare
this week after FIFPRO, Spain's LaLiga and the European Leagues'
group filed a joint complaint to European Union antitrust
regulators, accusing the global body of "calendar abuse".
    European Leagues is an association that includes 35 members
such as the Premier League, Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie
A and France's Ligue 1.

 (Reporting by Rohith Nair and Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru
Editing by Christian Radnedge)
 ((chiranjit.ojha@thomsonreuters.com;))