BALLER LEAGUE has agreed a one-year broadcast deal with Sky Sports and NOW TV for the inaugural UK season of the six-a-side competition.
Every match from the debut campaign is set to be shown live on Monday nights from the Copper Box Arena in London.
Coverage will be hosted by social media personality Chunkz and sports presenter Olivia Buzaglo.
Baller League has been a huge success in Germany since it was established by Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski two years ago.
The tournament is set to involve a combination of football icons and social media stars.
Twelve teams will play in six-a-side matches, with the top four advancing to the final play-off in May.
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Managers will assemble their squads next Monday (March 10) in a huge draft.
The first round of matches will then follow two weeks later.
YouTube superstar KSI has been named as president of the UK league, with streamer IShowSpeed fronting the American version.
Football legends Gary Lineker, John Terry and Luis Figo have been lined up as team managers for the new format.
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What teams are in the Baller League and who are they managed by?
- Trebol FC – Luis Figo
- VZN FC – TBJZL
- Deportrio FC – Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards
- SDS FC – Sharky
- 26ers FC – John Terry
- Yanited FC – AngryGinge
- N5 FC – Robert Pires, Jens Lehmann, Freddie Ljungberg
- M7 FC – Miniminter
- Santan FC – Dave
- FC Rules the World – Clint 419
Meanwhile, Micah Richards, Alan Shearer, Freddie Ljungberg, Jens Lehmann and Robert Pires are among those who have signed up as coaches.
German entrepreneur Felix Starck, who co-founded Baller League and is now CEO, said in November: “Sport is no longer as easy as just saying ‘look, we’re here now, come and watch us.’
“That’s just not how sport works any more. It needs to be exciting, and it needs to be authentic.
“Those are the two words that we always use at Baller League.”
What are the Baller League rules?
- Matches will be played in a six-a-side format on an smaller indoor pitch.
- Each half set to last 15 minutes.
- Shock rule twists to be introduced for the final three minutes of each half including a three vs three format, long-range goals counting as double, and goalkeepers not allowed to use their hands.
- These rule twists for the final three minutes will be randomised.
- MLS style one-vs-one penalties to be used.
- 12 teams in the league with the top four going through to the playoffs.
- League set to start in March 2025, with the final four play-off in May to crown the winner.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
