Please Not Do This, Premier League - La Liga Adds Ridiculous Virtual Crowd And Sounds To Fake Crowd
Jun 16, 2020, by Chris
The Spanish La Liga returned playing last week. With all teams having played at least one match since the restart, we could not get around talking about the "Virtual Fan Experience" Of La Liga.
While football without fans is eerily quiet, the La Liga television broadcast offers "a far livelier experience". With virtual crowd visuals and noise, La Liga hopes to compensate for the enforced empty stadiums.
La Liga's has a partnership with Norwegian broadcasting technology firm Vizrt. As part of the "virtual fan experience", viewers see to-scale images of seated fans wearing the home club's colours in "virtualised" stands.
Those specators, however, look anything but great. La Liga gained the mockery of people on social media.
The "virtual fans" in this La Liga broadcast have a strong "early 2000s sports video game where the crowds looked like ass" vibe pic.twitter.com/48sncnI0k2
— Brett Karlan, but inside (@brettkarlan) June 11, 2020
Spectators also hear simulated noise created by video game developer EA Sports FIFA, drawn from a back catalogue of chants from actual stadiums which will adapt to game events such as goals, chances and fouls.
"Our aim was to reproduce the same entertainment experience that viewers had before so we developed and selected technologies to create the same atmosphere," La Liga's audiovisual director Melcior Soler told Reuters.
"This is something which is not so strange in the entertainment industry. Sitcoms and late night shows add applause and laughter and we think the audience will understand that this will give a better atmosphere to the games."
Not everyone is pleased by the prospect of a simulated fan experience.
"The use of virtual images and sounds in the television broadcasts of what they are trying to sell as the return of football feels to us like a lack of respect to the fans they want to replace," said Emilio Abejon of fans group FASFE.
La Liga responded by saying: "We want to give viewers a good experience and that's why during this unusual time we have opted for virtualisation of the stands. Everyone watching it will know it isn't real, but it will enhance the viewing experience.
Spanish TV programme @vamos illustrating the two options for watching La Liga for the rest of the season. The 'virtual' option including computerised fan images/audio and the reality of an empty stadium. pic.twitter.com/dloSINvxYm
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) June 8, 2020
Spanish TV channels are offering fans to have both the actual experience (without fans) and the fake experience.
THE NEW NORMAL 🤔
— La Liga Lowdown 🧡🇪🇸⚽️ (@LaLigaLowdown) June 16, 2020
In our latest video series, we’ll be looking at what we 🧡 and 🤬 about football post-lockdown.
First up is @pacopolitENG on virtual fans and fake sound effects 🎶
He’s not a fan! 🤷♂️#LLL
🧡🇪🇸⚽️pic.twitter.com/OopcJmFALq
We are looking forward to tomorrow's Premier League return to see what the world's leading league has prepared.
What do you think of La Liga trying to fake the actual stadium experience? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
FSV Frankfurt 26-27 Home Kit Released
German Regionalliga Südwest club FSV Frankfurt and kit supplier Erima have officially launched the team's new home kit for the 26-27 season. The release comes shortly after the presentation of the club's new away uniform in mid-July.
The Erima FSV Frankfurt 26-27 home jersey brings back a bold look in the traditional black and blue club colors, utilizing wide horizontal hoops across the front torso. White panels along the sides and shoulders add contrast, alongside subtle white accents on the collar rim and sleeve trims. Main sponsor Ludwig Hofmann is printed in white across the chest, complemented by the club crest on the left chest and white Erima branding.
Black shorts and black socks complete the new Erima FSV Frankfurt 26-27 home uniform, which is now officially available for purchase through the club's online store.
No Adidas Logo: Charly Mexico U23 Kits Released
Mexico's U23 squad has received brand-new Charly kits ahead of their campaign at the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games (Juegos Centroamericanos y del Caribe).
Fans expecting to see the customary Adidas three stripes on El Tri's youth delegation might be caught off guard, but there is a distinct structural reason behind the supplier swap for this tournament.
While the main national team and the Mexican Football Federation (FMF) are sponsored by Adidas, multi-sport events within the Olympic cycle fall directly under the governance of the Comité Olímpico Mexicano (COM). Domestic sportswear brand Charly holds the official apparel rights for all athletes representing the Mexican Olympic Committee through the 2028 Los Angeles Games, resulting in the U23 football squad dressing in Charly uniforms for these games.
The new Mexico U23 2026 home jersey features a deep green base highlighted by subtle tonal vertical stripes running down the front. The design is finished with a traditional polo collar and sleeve cuffs trimmed in red and dark green accents. Instead of the FMF crest, the chest displays the official Mexican Olympic Committee logo alongside Charly's emblem, paired with green shorts and white socks.
Stellenbosch FC 26-27 Home Kit Released
South African side Stellenbosch FC and technical partner Umbro have officially launched the club's new home kit for the 26-27 Betway Premiership season. The Stellenbosch FC 26-27 home jersey combines the club's signature maroon and gold palette, featuring a prominent gold panel across the chest with fine horizontal gradient lines transitioning into the maroon lower body. Maroon raglan sleeves with striped sleeve cuffs and white branding complete the look.
BSC Young Boys 26-27 Away Kit Released
Swiss club BSC Young Boys and Nike have officially unveiled their new away kit for the 26-27 season. The launch features a special photoshoot shot by photographer Yves Bachmann inside Bern's historic Capitol Haus, modeled by YB legend Guillaume Hoarau.
The Nike Young Boys 26-27 away jersey features broad horizontal stripes in grey and white across the body and sleeves. Vibrant yellow accents complement the base design, appearing on the Nike Swoosh, collar trim, and the club's classic YB crest on the left chest.
Contrasting black sponsor logos complete the kit, with main partner yuh positioned prominently across the front.
Clermont Foot 26-27 Home Kit Released
Clermont Foot 63 and Kappa have officially revealed the club's 26-27 home kit, combining classic elements with traditional club colors.
The shirt features a red base centered around a broad navy blue vertical block bordered by thin white pinstripes. A matching navy polo collar with white trim gives the kit a timeless look, complemented by white Kappa branding and sponsor logos across the front.
The back of the shirt uniquely includes the stripes, with the skyline of the region.
Rostov 26-27 Away Kit Released
Russian club FK Rostov has officially unveiled its new away kit for the 26-27 season, produced by technical supplier Jogel.
The jersey features a sleek dark navy blue base complemented by yellow accents on the overlap V-neck collar and sleeve cuffs.
Farnborough 26-27 Third Kit Released
Farnborough and their technical partner Macron have officially unveiled their new third kit, completing the kit set ahead of the 2026-27 National League South season.
The new design introduces a fresh look with sharp white design with navy patterned graphic sleeves. Matching white shorts and socks round off the overall look for Farnborough, adding graphic similar to the shirt's on each side of the shorts. Club crest and Macron logos are all in monochrome navy.
What do you think of the new Macron Farnborough 26-27 third kit? Leave your thoughts in the comment below.
Torquay United's Women 26-27 Home Kit Released
Torquay United's Women have officially released their new home kit ahead of their return to Women's National League in the 2026-27 season, made by VX3.
The kit features coastal-inspired half-and-half graphics in the traditional yellow and blue, combined with thin collar and sleeve cuffs. The ‘Est. 2013’ detail on the back neck recognises the year the women’s team was founded. Blue shorts and yellow socks complete the overall look for Torquay United's Women.
What do you think of the new VX3 Torquay United's Women 2026-27 home kit? Leave your thoughts in the comment below.
