Biggest Sponsorship Deals in Indian Football

by Chittu Shetty March 27, 2022

Multinational corporation investment has been seismic in the recent decade. The foundation of the Indian Super League with the intention of glamourizing Indian football with big names and Bollywood stars has not been beneficial.

The platform for engaging huge businesses and organizations, on the other hand, has introduced a feeling of professionalism to the way Indian football operates.

We have seen ISL clubs, like Mumbai City FC, taken over by the City Football Group (CFG). The ISL has evolved into India’s top league, replacing the I-League, thanks to investments by Indian conglomerates like JSW and Tata in Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC.

Below are the biggest sponsorship deals in the Indian football league. While at it, read this

1.     Hero MotoCorp

Hero MotoCorp, India’s two-wheeler behemoth, has been the ISL’s headline sponsor from its inception.

The automaker has become a key sponsor of all of India’s national teams, with a prominent brand presence at stadiums for all home games through pitchside electronic displays and via the teams’ different social media channels.

The contract was worth between $23 and $25 million, and it includes:

• title sponsorship of the ISL,
• the I-league,
• Indian team sponsorships,
• the second division league,
• the women’s league,
• and all junior levels.

Gambling Companies Sponsoring the Indian Football

In recent years, the casino industry has also thrown its hat into the sports sponsorship ring. A percentage of the money generated when players play their favorite casino games online goes to sponsorship arrangements.

As a result, a growing number of gambling companies are sponsoring sports teams, notably Indian football clubs and competitions. Many sportsbooks sponsor football to attract more customers like you.

However, read reviews about the betting sites before you become a customer. For example, check out this Bollybet casino review by Casinojungli.   The casino also acts as a betting website, allowing you to not only play slots and poker but also to bet on cricket, football and hockey.

That said, the top gambling brands sponsoring the ISL is DafaNews

2.     DafaNews

DafaNews, owned by Makati, Philippines-based online gambling giant Dafabet, was named as Mumbai City FC’s Principal Partner in November 2020. It acted as their front-of-matchday-shirt sponsor for the 2020-21 season.

In November 2021, the two renewed their collaboration with an agreement that made DafaNews the Sports News Portal Partner and Mumbai City FC’s back-of-the-matchday-shirt sponsor.

3.     Six5Six

Six5Six is a Gurgaon, India-based textile manufacturer. Six5Six replaced Nike as the Indian football team’s official kit sponsor beginning with the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. Nike previously supplied football kits to the Indian national team but did not pay AIFF any money.

Since 2019, Six5Six has sponsored Kerala Blasters, gaining entrée into the Indian football market. Six5Six’s agreement was allegedly worth between 1.5 and 2 crores each year.

4.     Football Sports Development Limited

Football Sports Development Limited is an Indian company that runs the Indian Super League, India’s top-tier football league. Reliance runs the firm as a subsidiary. The firm is the All-India Football Federation’s commercial partner.

The All-India Football Federation stated on December 9, 2010, that it has struck a 15-year, 700-crore contract with Reliance Industries and the International Management Group. They decided to build a new professional league for the growth of Indian football as part of that agreement.

IMG–Reliance, along with the All-India Football Federation and STAR Sports, launched the Indian Super League in October 2013.

The league’s purpose was to make football a popular sport in India.

In 2020, the Indian Super League (ISL) and the Premier League signed a new agreement under which the ISL and the Premier League will collaborate to share knowledge and expertise in all areas of football, including governance, talent development, commercial growth, administration, and wider community development.

5.     The Odisha Government

The Odisha state government is an AIFF key partner. The deal calls for the state to make its remarkable training and stadium facilities available to various Indian national teams of varied ages.

This emphasis on sports development is an important component of the Odisha Government’s commitment to reach out to the country’s youth and provide them with a platform to realize their aspirations. In 2018, the Odisha government donated 5 crore rupees in a sponsorship contract with AIFF to create young teams under the auspices of AIFF.

6.     Puma

On September 30, 2014, a week before the start of the first season, it was confirmed that Puma SE will be the Indian Super League’s official ball supplier.

The Puma Evo Power 1 Statement Football had two exterior fabrics. The first offers greater swerve in dead ball situations, while the second reintroduces dimple technology for increased aerodynamics.

Puma also provided warm-up and training balls.

The relationship with ISL added gravitas, and Puma was delighted to be the tournament’s official ball partner. The Evo Power 1 football incorporates cutting-edge technology.

7.     NIVIA

NIVIA is a sports equipment manufacturer situated in Jalandhar, Punjab, India. Its football became the All-India Football Federation’s official ball (AIFF).

NIVIA Sports presented the Astra, the official match ball for the Indian Super League 2021-2022.

The soccer ball is made of PU microfiber leather and has an 8-panel construction, which decreases seam length by 23%.

8.     Adidas

Teams expanded their sponsorship intake in 2015, with shirt sponsorship agreements costing twice as much as the previous season and up to nine advertising permitted on club jerseys. The league’s teams had also inked jersey manufacturing sponsorship arrangements with corporations like Adidas.

9.     DHL Express

For the 2017/18 season, DHL Express renewed its association with the Indian Super League (ISL).

The German logistics business created a 360-degree interactive advertising campaign for the forthcoming fourth season of the ISL. It maintained a substantial brand presence at stadiums across India and on ISL TV broadcasts.

The deal’s financial specifics have not been published.

DHL was an associate sponsor of the Indian league for three years in a row.

Conclusion

While some have raised worry about India football’s intimate links with its sponsors, these ties are unlikely to be severed anytime soon.

They are simply too important for both the teams and the sponsors to abandon. True, a few corporations have said that they will no longer sponsor football. The bulk of these arrangements, however, are much too valuable for any party to refuse to sign.

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