-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | Add your name to the CLEAN GOA INITIATIVE | | | | by visiting this link and following the instructions therein | | | | http://shire.symonds.net/pipermail/goanet/2005-October/033926.html | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Soccer referees to use field radios The world will witness for the first time, use of radio micro phones by a referee in a competitive football match, thanks to the Indian Football Association. Speaking to the media about the 111th IFA Shield 2005, Subrata Dutta, secretary of IFA, said this would be the first time, such an experiment would be done. "With the help of the radio microphone, the referee's conversation would be available to the TV viewers, but at the discretion of the programme director," he explained. Speaking to Business Standard, Dutta explained that corporates were now backing football in India. "The matches that we have been conducting has seen increasing participation from corporate in terms of sponsorship. The 111th IFA Shield has also recorded corporate sponsorship to the tune of Rs 1 crore, apart from Rs 1.5 crore from ESPN-Star Sports, the official channel partner of the tournament," Dutta added. The sponsors list included names like Allahabad Bank, Chirag, Playwin, Sangbad Pratidin, SWC, HHI, Hindustan Times and Apollo Gleneagles Hospital, he added. India is expected to witness a surge in football fever as the World Cup kicks off in Germany next year and domestic football fans join the craze. Indian football is set become market savvy and glamourised with Zee Sports acquiring the ten-year rights to telecast matches from the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The ball has already started rolling on the funds awashed greens with the Federation Cup organised by the AIFF at the Nehru Stadium, Margao, Goa from October 19. The cup this time would provide for air travel for all the players with the extra money provided by Zee Sports and would also have state of the art medical facilities with the precedence of the unfortunate incident of the death of Dempo's Brazilian striker Christiano Junior, which would henceforth be closely monitored said Priyaranjan Dasmunsi, president, AIFF. A logo for the Federation Cup was unveiled to signal this new journey of resurgence of Indian football with the prize money of the cup increased to Rs 26 lakh with Rs 12 lakh for the winner and Rs 7 lakh for the runner-up. A third position has also been introduced from this year with a prize money of Rs 2 lakh and a best striker endowment in memory of Junior worth Rs 2 lakh. The fund inflow has also resulted in first round winners getting Rs 30,000 and those winning the quarter final fixtures onwards an increased fee of Rs 60,000, Dasmunsi continued. Zee Sports will leverage its regional channels to promote the domestic level matches and according to the contract clause post the AIFF's delivery of a couple of tournaments every year, the channel has promised a certain sum of money which would be utilised in improvement and training of players, facilities and various football clubs and associations, said Mody. The channel plans to telecast about 100 matches a year. The marketing activities will include a special website providing details on matches, players and statistics, chat rooms, video clips, online games, wallpaper and ringtones besides mainline advertising. For the first time domestic matches will get coverage on daily news programmes like Sports Cafe on Zee Sports with a pan Indian presence. Next on the telecast and promotion radar by the channel are Santosh Trophy, National Football League and Super Cup. Business Standard Bureau / Kolkata / November 23, 2005
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