SciSports raises €1.35m to develop its 3D match analysis solution
January 29 – Start-up Dutch firm SciSports has raised €1.35 million to develop its BallJames three-dimensional pixel technology that is used to enhance football data analysis.
Technical
Sportradar widens its investor base and signs FAM data deal
By Mark Baber
October 29 – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has signed a deal with sports data provider Sportradar to set up a football management system allowing it to better manage its leagues, data collection and distribution.
Wearable technology pioneer takes game data analysis to next level
By Ben Nicholson
October 26 – As the date nears for companies to present their electronic performance and tracking systems to IFAB and FIFA, Insideworldfootball has spoken to wearable technology market pioneers Catapult about how far the technology can inform decision-making, including in-game, how it can be used generally, and what FIFA/IFAB are looking for.
FIFA to take leap into the wearable technology world
By Ben Nicholson
October 19 – FIFA, alongside The International Football Association Board (IFAB), are looking to develop standardised wearable-technology. FIFA and IFAB have invited producers of electronic performance and tracking systems (EPTS) to present their systems.
Adidas extends deal with Spanish until 2026
By Mark Baber
September 9 – Adidas is extending its partnership with the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) until 2026. Under the terms of the partnership, which had originally been scheduled to run until 2018, the German group will continue to supply kits and apparel to all RFEF teams, including the Spanish national football team.
Chelsea plug in to Wipro’s ‘commando force’ to boost its digital outreach globally
By Mark Baber
September 4 – Chelsea has unveiled Wipro, the Bangalore, India-based multi-national global information technology company, as the club’s new official digital and IT partner. Last week Manchester United announced a similar digital partnership with another Indian technology company, HCL Technologies.
Man Utd partner with HCL to drive new digital frontier to club’s fans
By David Owen
September 2 – As television and the globalised market for players fuel the increasing internationalisation of the fan bases of leading football clubs, digital technology is of growing importance for clubs seeking to communicate with, and generate revenue from, these supporters.
Liverpool players grounded for kit launch, but Fowler dropped from a height
By Paul Nicholson
July 17 – Liverpool took the opportunity of the Australian leg of the club’s pre-season tour to launch their new away kit, the first away kit with New Balance. While current players Simon Mignolet, Martin Skrtel and new signing James Milner modeled the kit in King George Square in Brisbane, club legend Robbie Fowler was launched from a light aircraft wearing the Reds’ new white jersey.
New Balance kicks on with new boots and Porto kit launch
June 22 – New Balance has continued its football expansion with the launch of the new 2015/16 FC Porto home kit as well as the global debut of the clothing company’s first football boots, the Visaro.
Joma expands to French ligue 1 with Toulouse deal
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
June 10 – Spanish sports apparel brand Joma has signed a new kit deal with Toulouse FC in a move which marks the manufacturer’s first technical sponsorship contract inked with a French Ligue 1 club.
Romania swaps Adidas for Joma in €5.4 million deal
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
June 1 – Romania’s football federation FRF has signed a kit deal worth up to €5.4 million with Spanish sports apparel producer Joma. The company will replace Adidas which started supplying kits to the Romanian federation in 1970.
Stoke City unveil first kit with New Balance for 2015-16 kick-off
May 3 – Stoke City have unveiled their new kit for the 2015-16, the first kit that will be produced by New Balance. Last month New Balance unveiled Liverpool’s new strip for next season as it expands its brand presence in British football.
Kappa adds Benítez’s Napoli in five-year kit deal
By David Owen
April 29 – Kit-maker Kappa have added Napoli to their stable of Italian Serie A clubs.
After 20 years, PSV swaps Nike for Umbro in new 5-year deal
By Jaroslaw Adamowski
February 19 – PSV Eindhoven has decided to swap Nike for Umbro as its kit supplier starting in the 2015/2016 Eredivisie season.
CSKA Sofia dress Italian, picking Lotto over Nike
By Alexander Krassimirov
January 15 – Bulgaria’s CSKA Sofia have opted to sign a kit deal with Italian firm Lotto instead of switching to US giant Nike. The new three-year contract with the Italian supplier starts next season and replacing another Italian company, Legea.