UEFA gets $230M sponsorship from Chinese payment platform

  • In this Tuesday, March 21, 2017 file photo, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin addresses the media at a news conference in Prague, Czech Republic. Aleksander Ceferin is set to be re-elected as head of European soccer after no challenger entered the contest for the UEFA presidency. The deadline for candidates ahead of the election in February passed on Wednesday Nov. 7, 2018.

    In this Tuesday, March 21, 2017 file photo, UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin addresses the media at a news conference in Prague, Czech Republic. Aleksander Ceferin is set to be re-elected as head of European soccer after no challenger entered the contest for the UEFA presidency. The deadline for candidates ahead of the election in February passed on Wednesday Nov. 7, 2018. Associated Press

 
Associated Press
Associated Press
 
 
Posted11/9/2018 7:00 AM

SHANGHAI -- UEFA has secured more than 200 million euros ($230 million) from Chinese online payments platform Alipay to sponsor leading European soccer competitions.

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin was in Shanghai on Friday to announce to the eight-year deal with Alipay to sponsor men's national team competitions, including the European Championship in 2020 and 2024 and the new Nations League .

 

The company is controlled by Jack Ma, the founder of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.

World soccer's governing body, FIFA, has a tie-up with Alibaba, which was founded by Ma in 1999. Car manufacturing brand Alibaba E-Auto is the title sponsor of the Club World Cup through 2022.

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