Shorts: Wales Fa, Para Swimming, Aston Villa
Welsh language free-to-air television channel S4C has agreed a deal with ViaPlay to broadcast non-tournament Wales men’s team matches until the end of 2028.
The deal includes the UEFA Nations League and qualifying for the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Euros.
Friendly matches are also in the package, which takes it up to at least 40 live games that will be broadcast in Welsh language.
Video streaming service platform ViaPlay secured the rights, alongside all other international football in these competitions except from England games, ahead of the companies UK launch last year.
S4C also has the rights to Wales’ qualifying matches for the Euro 2025 UEFA Under 21 Championships in Slovakia.
Sian Doyle, Chief Executive Officer of S4C, said, “We are delighted that we will be able to broadcast Wales’ international football matches on S4C until 2028. This builds on the already excellent partnership we have with Viaplay, and I would like to thank them for their collaboration on this deal. S4C is the home of Welsh football, and we are proud to stand alongside the FAW and Wales’ Red Wall of passionate supporters”.
Ed Breeze, Senior Vice President and Head of Sports UK for ViaPlay, added, “We are thrilled to partner with S4C who have been an amazing supporter of Welsh football throughout the years. There is a very passionate fanbase of Welsh football fans and we’re delighted to make these games of such national sporting significance available to the widest possible audience.”
Manchester 2023 Para Swimming World Championships has announced eo as official partner.
Australian sports technology company eo will become the official wearable technology partner of the Manchester 2023 Para Swimming World Championships, to be held at the newly refurbished Manchester Aquatics Centre from 31st July to 6th August 2023.
The sports technology brand will harness the profile of the world’s biggest para swimming event outside of the Paralympics to raise awareness of its eo SwimBETTER product.
Katie Chapman, Event Director of the Para Swimming World Championships, said, “By embracing eo’s commitment to progress and innovation, we can showcase how para swimmers and their coaches can benefit from SwimBETTER by recording insightful, motivating and accurate measurements. This will showcase and improve performance, and support the development of para swimming around the world.”
Jaimie Fuller, Chairman and Co-Founder of eo, added, “eo believes that every body has vast potential waiting to be unlocked and that science holds the key. We set new standards for what can be achieved and our purpose is to accelerate progress, in sport and in life. The Manchester 2023 Para Swimming World Championships will enable us to showcase eo SwimBETTER and demonstrate the role we can play in revolutionising para swimming.”
Premier League football club Aston Villa has announced the appointment of Ramón Rodriguez Verdejo ‘Monchi’ as the club’s new President of Football Operations.
Monchi joins from Sevilla, which recently won a record-breaking seventh Europa League title after overcoming Roma last month. Monchi was the Spanish club’s Director of Football a the time.
Nassef Sawiris, Aston Villa FC Chairman, said, “We are delighted to have Monchi joining us in this new position that consolidates all football responsibilities at the Group. Alongside Unai and his staff, Monchi´s arrival will add to the world class team we are assembling both on and off the pitch. He is, like Unai Emery, a serial winner. With the appointment of Chris Heck on the business side, this new structure will ensure that the Club is firing on all cylinders on the commercial side in addition to the football side to ensure that the Club’s model is sustainable and positioned well to meet our growing ambitions.”
Monchi, the new President of Football Operations for Aston Villa, added, “I am very excited to join Aston Villa, a great project which is striving for excellence from the Under-9s to the top level, and I completely share the vision of Mr. Sawiris and Mr. Edens. I am also delighted and can’t wait to work with Unai Emery again, one of the best managers in football. After enjoying so many years with Sevilla FC and winning several European trophies with my life-long club, I look forward to building on the recent successes at Aston Villa and ensuring this colossal club continues to grow and improve.”
