FIFA 20: CONMEBOL Threaten Ban To Clubs Who Withhold Naming Rights

Feb 27, 2020

by Chris

On March 3, EA Sports will release a big update for FIFA 20 that will bring the South American football's governing body Copa Libertadores as well as other tournaments organized by CONMEBOL to the game. Now it has been revealed by ESPN Sports Brasil that CONMEBOL have threatened a continental ban to any team who don't release their rights to EA Sports.

FIFA 20 Copa Libertadores Update

Several clubs across the continent have contracts with rival Konami, who produce Pro Evolution Soccer, while CONMEBOL themselves were also had a deal with the Japanese company until 2019.

However, from 2020, they agreed rights with EA Sports and have requested all clubs release their commercial and naming rights for the FIFA series and threatened those who do not comply with expulsion from the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

Brazilian clubs Athletico-PR, Atletico-MG, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Sao Paulo, Copa Libertadores holders Flamengo, Argentine clubs Boca Juniors and River Plate as well as Chile's Colo Colo have exclusive contracts with Konami. Five Brazilian have all questioned the demand from CONMEBOL.

Juan Roa, commercial and marketing director, said in an answer to ESPN Brasil:

"The reproduction of Conmebol Libertadores video games, if the buyer wants (EA Sports), may be identical to the reproduction of the "real" tournament. That is to say, the same clubs that are in the competition will be able to participate. Regarding the sale of exclusivity by some clubs in the category, we must point out that the coexistence of the presence of clubs both in EA Sports and in another company is an industry standard. We can cite as an example Barcelona, from Spain, which has its rights granted to Konami, and yet its participation during the Champions League is through EA Sports."

"It should be noted that the club cannot, under any perspective, cede its participation in Conmebol Libertadores, since it is a right that does not correspond to it, and yet it could cede as a club and participate in the "free" category within the game. Conmebol sold the video game rights to the company EA Sports, in relation to Conmebol Libertadores, Conmebol Sul-Americana and Conmebol Recopa, and has been performing with the express authorization of the clubs since 2018 in a consecutive and uninterrupted manner."