Barcelona Extends Rakuten Deal For One Year Until 2022 - Less Money As Deal 'Optimized' For Post-Pandemic Era?
Nov 6, 2020, by Chris
FC Barcelona and Rakuten today announced that they have extended their deal for the 2021-122 season, exercising the option contained in the original agreement.
The existing Rakuten x Barça contract was worth €55 million (US$64 million) annually, signed in 2016.
Rakuten To Be On Front Of Barcelona Kits In 2020-21 Season
Rakuten will remain as FC Barcelona’s Main Global Partner and Global Innovation and Entertainment Partner, and its logo will continue to appear on the first team shirt in the 2021/22 season.
FC Barcelona and Rakuten, Inc., a global leader in internet services headquartered in Japan, decided on October 9, 2020, to exercise the option included in the original agreement launched in 2017 to extend their partnership for an additional season, once the initial term of the contract expires on June 30, 2021. This means that Barça and Rakuten are reaffirming their alliance at a time marked by the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, extending the partnership to June 30, 2022.
It also means that Rakuten will remain as FC Barcelona’s Main Global Partner and Global Innovation and Entertainment Partner, and its brand name will continue to appear on the front of the first team shirt in the 2021-22 season.
While no financial details have been disclosed, the club's statement says that "the assets included in the extension will be optimized to be more suitable and aligned to the circumstances of the post-pandemic era".
Mundo Deportivo reported in August that both Rakuten and Beko were looking to continue their deals at a reduced price.
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Did Kelme Use Stock Design for Indonesia Third Kit?
Indonesia national team third kit from Kelme features a blue inspired by the ocean, subtle floral patterns adorning the front in tribute to Puspa Bangsa (jasmine), Indonesia’s national flower.
However, the design quickly drew scrutiny from Garuda supporters, who discovered that the flower pattern appears virtually identical to a generic stock vector available on Freepik. The revelation has left many fans deeply disappointed, raising questions over the lack of originality in what was expected to be a bespoke creation from Kelme.
FC Famalicão 26-27 Third Kit Released
Portuguese Primeira Liga club FC Famalicão have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 26-27 season. Branded under the club's "100% Famalicão" initiative and carrying the concept "Famalicão, o Centro do Norte" (Famalicão, the Center of the North), the shirt celebrates the city's geographical importance and rich industrial heritage. For the second consecutive season, the special alternative jersey has been produced exclusively in partnership with local textile manufacturers from the Famalicão region.
The Puma FC Famalicão 26-27 third shirt combines a clean light mint-green base with refined metallic gold accents. Inspired by the 1940s Manoel de Oliveira documentary film dedicated to the municipality, the jersey features intricate map-like line patterns that converge on a central compass emblem, representing Famalicão's role as a historic crossroads and hub in northern Portugal. A centered club badge adorned with a golden wreath, a gold bwin front sponsor, and coordinating gold trim along the round collar and sleeve cuffs complete the design.
Matching mint-green shorts and socks with gold details round off the full strip. The new FC Famalicão 26-27 third kit is now available through the club's official stadium store and online shop.
A Look at Football Broadcast Scorebugs Across Major Competitions
On-screen graphics have become an integral part of modern football broadcasting, directly shaping how supporters digest match details and information. A comparison shared by sports media creator @Braylon_Breeze brought together 16 distinct scorebugs featured across contemporary broadcasts, highlighting the diverse visual identities adopted by major leagues and networks. From the clean, vertical arrangements of Ligue 1 and La Liga to the horizontal bars used across UEFA club competitions, the overview captures the differing design philosophies currently on display.
While all scorebugs serve the fundamental purpose of presenting the scoreline, match clock, and team colors, their execution varies considerably. Tournaments like the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, and the Premier League opt for streamlined horizontal strips with strong contrast and subtle tournament branding. In contrast, competitions such as the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 utilize distinctive square or stacked formats, while Apple TV's presentation for MLS embraces extreme minimalism by stripping away ornate design elements in favor of a low-profile look.
The side-by-side comparison sparked lively discussion among fans regarding legibility versus graphic flair. Supporters often single out the high readability of the Bundesliga and Champions League graphics for praise, while bulkier or more generic designs frequently draw criticism. As broadcast networks and leagues continue to overhaul their visual packages season after season, scorebugs remain one of the most prominent and scrutinized design pieces in televised football.