IFA sign four-year deal worth Rs.14 crores with Accord Sports VDK

The advertising and event management group will handle four tournaments.

Football’s governing body in West Bengal, Indian Football Association (IFA) have signed a new deal with advertising and event management group, Accord Sports VDK. The deal which is worth ₹14 crore, also ensures that four tournaments will be handled by the new commercial partners.

The tournaments that will be promoted by Accord Sports include the IFA Shield and Calcutta Football League Premier Division. The other tournaments that will be promoted are Trades Cup (first division qualifying), Women’s League and Nursery League.

Speaking on the deal to PTI, IFA General Secretary Joydeep Mukherjee expressed, “They will try to rope in sponsors and will also have the telecast rights. We both will have to work in tandem. It’s a win-win situation for both of us.”

“Initially, they have taken over the responsibility of these tournaments for a period of four years. However, they will not interfere in any of our internal work,” Mukherjee further added.

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Sudip Ganguly from Accord Sports VDK has an experience of 30 years in promotion and advertising and will aim to bring in more sponsors and investment in the state football scene. This will make a huge difference in improvement of the domestic football infrastructure as well.

In that context, Ganguly said, “We hope to bring in more and more corporates and will try to include all the tournaments. We hope it’s a long-term contract and benefits Bengal football.”

Subrata Dutta, the AIFF senior vice-president also spoke on the subject and made clear his elation at the series of events. He said, “It’s a historic day in the 128 years of IFA. For the first time, a state association has got a commercial partner. It’s like Football Sports Development Limited being the commercial partner of AIFF.”

West Bengal is often termed as a football haven in India and IFA’s deal with a new commercial partner will ensure that local talent will get good exposure and help the sport to grow not only in the state, but the nation as well.