Big Brother Is Watching You!
Regular readers of this blog might know that I like to mock the whole corporate sponsorship culture that surrounds the World Cup Finals.
Personally, I don't really care that an Indian IT company wants to pay £32 million to be a World Cup 'sponsor'. It's their money; they can piss it up against whichever wall they choose. And, before the World Cup 2010 starts, I will be mocking the whole concept of a football event even needing an 'IT sponsor'.
But, I disgress.
What I do find egregious (look it up) is the way in which FIFA is seeking to maximise their income by turning the screws on smaller businesses who wish to promote themselves during World Cup year.
This document suggests that FIFA will sue you if you use the phrase '2010' in relation to the words 'soccer' or 'football' if you are not an official sponsor, partner or whatever other category of money-making nonsense they have come up with.
There is even the suggestion that FIFA hold the rights to all billboard advertising within a 5km radius of any World Cup stadium.
This is the kind of crass commercialisation that I, personally, find sickening. Especially as it restricts the opportunities for local (and by that, I meant South African) businesses to compete.
I remember when the World Cup was about football, not about money.
Personally, I don't really care that an Indian IT company wants to pay £32 million to be a World Cup 'sponsor'. It's their money; they can piss it up against whichever wall they choose. And, before the World Cup 2010 starts, I will be mocking the whole concept of a football event even needing an 'IT sponsor'.
But, I disgress.
What I do find egregious (look it up) is the way in which FIFA is seeking to maximise their income by turning the screws on smaller businesses who wish to promote themselves during World Cup year.
This document suggests that FIFA will sue you if you use the phrase '2010' in relation to the words 'soccer' or 'football' if you are not an official sponsor, partner or whatever other category of money-making nonsense they have come up with.
There is even the suggestion that FIFA hold the rights to all billboard advertising within a 5km radius of any World Cup stadium.
This is the kind of crass commercialisation that I, personally, find sickening. Especially as it restricts the opportunities for local (and by that, I meant South African) businesses to compete.
I remember when the World Cup was about football, not about money.
Labels: fifa, rights, sponsors, world cup sponsors
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posted by mark_s at 7:11 PM
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