Latest news with #MVPsUnited
Reuters
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Reuters
'Sharky'-led SDS win first Baller League UK title
LONDON, June 12 (Reuters) - Six-a-side team SDS FC, managed by online infuencer "Sharky". won the UK's inaugural Baller League on Thursday, beating MVPs United 4-2 in the final at London's O2 arena in a burgeoning new tournament that shakes up soccer's traditional format. SDS dominated the first half, roaring into a 4-1 lead in the game, which includes special rules such as "Plus One" that briefly cuts the teams to one-versus-one plus goalkeepers. TV host Maya Jama's MVPs cut the deficit by one goal in the second period, but were unable to mount a serious comeback in front of thousands of fans inside the arena and many more watching online, including 100,000 on YouTube. "It means everything ... I always believed," said "Sharky", whose real name is Sharmarke Mohamud, in a pitchside interview. "Being a champion just feels amazing," added SDS player David Marques Castanho, who got on the scoresheet. SDS reached the final by defeating Deportrio while MVPs overcame Yanited FC in 30-minute games played earlier on Thursday in the UK's "Baller League Final Four". The tournament was founded in Germany in 2023, where games were first played in an airport hangar, expanded to the UK this year and is also set to launch in the United States. A Spanish-founded similar format, called the Kings League, is also growing rapidly, even though traditionalists scoff at the games as a gimmicky distortion of pure football.
Scottish Sun
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Who is playing in the Baller League final?
FINAL COUNTDOWN Who is playing in the Baller League final? Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) BALLER LEAGUE is coming to its captivating conclusion - and one side will finally get their hands on the first-ever title. The influence-led league, headlined by KSI, saw former Premier League stars, futsal players and celebrities face each other in a 12-team group stage format. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Alan Shearer (L) and Micah Richards (M)- two out of the three Deportrio managers Credit: Getty And the indoor six-a-side tournament has consistently kept fans on the edge of their seats by providing bags of entertainment from Matchday 1. Deportrio which is managed by footballing icons Alan Shearer, Micah Richards and Gary Lineker currently top the leaderboards and are heavy favourites to win it. But they've been given a run for their money by second-place MVPs United who are being led by popular TV host Maya Jama and Swiss footballer Alisha Lehmann. However, those two above are not the only sides that can make it in the highly anticipated final. Read more on Baller League SEEING RED Troy Deeney SENT OFF just minutes into return to football Who is in the Baller League final? The two teams that will feature in the Baller League final will be decided once the semi-final matches have been contested. Deportrio, led by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, topped the standings on goal difference after 11 rounds of action-packed fixtures. Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama's MVP United narrowly missed out on top spot by one goal, but they have secured their place in the final four. Yanited and SDS FC complete the sides competing for Baller League glory next Thursday night - and fans are treated to even more thrilling action at the O2. Here are the semi-final fixtures: Semi-final 1: Deportrio vs SDS FC Semi-final 2: MVPs United vs Yanited Final: SF1 winner vs SF2 winner 2 What are the rules? Leading up to the big final day, in the event two teams are tied after 11 matches, the order will be first decided by goal difference, then goals scored, followed by the result between the two sides in question. If, after these three stipulations, the two sides are still level, a shootout will determine who progresses. IHowever, in the event of a draw in the Final Four after the regular 30 minutes, a penalty shootout is held in which each team initially provides three takers. What do you get for winning the Baller League final? Besides lifting the title, it has not been revealed what the winning team would earn from being crowned champions of the UK Baller League. However, reports suggest that players earn £400 for every match that they participate in. So doing the maths, any player that played in all 11 group stage matches, the semi-final and then the final, would earn a minimum of £5200.
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Who is playing in the Baller League final?
BALLER LEAGUE is coming to its captivating conclusion - and one side will finally get their hands on the first-ever title. The influence-led league, headlined by Advertisement 2 Alan Shearer (L) and Micah Richards (M)- two out of the three Deportrio managers Credit: Getty And the indoor six-a-side tournament has consistently kept fans on the edge of their seats by providing bags of entertainment from Matchday 1. But they've been given a run for their money by second-place MVPs United who are being led by popular TV host Maya Jama and Swiss footballer Alisha Lehmann. However, those two above are not the only sides that can make it in the highly anticipated final. Advertisement Read more on Baller League Who is in the Baller League final? The two teams that will feature in the Baller League final will be decided once the semi-final matches have been contested. Deportrio, led by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Yanited and SDS FC complete the sides competing for Baller League glory next Thursday night - and fans are treated to even more thrilling action at the O2. Advertisement Most read in Football Breaking Here are the semi-final fixtures: Semi-final 1: Deportrio vs SDS FC Semi-final 2: MVPs United vs Yanited Final: SF1 winner vs SF2 winner 2 What are the rules? Leading up to the big final day, in the event two teams are tied after 11 matches, the order will be first decided by goal difference, then goals scored, followed by the result between the two sides in question. Advertisement If, after these three stipulations, the two sides are still level, a shootout will determine who progresses. IHowever, in the event of a draw in the Final Four after the regular 30 minutes, a penalty shootout is held in which each team initially provides three takers. What do you get for winning the Baller League final? Besides lifting the title, it has not been revealed what the winning team would earn from being crowned champions of the UK Baller League. However, reports suggest that players earn £400 for every match that they participate in. Advertisement So doing the maths, any player that played in all 11 group stage matches, the semi-final and then the final, would earn a minimum of £5200.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Soccer- Burgeoning 'Baller League' offers zany remix of Beautiful Game
* Baller League among various new Gen Z-focused soccer formats * Players and influencers join together in six-a-side teams * New rules shake up traditional 90-minute game format * Investors pour in millions, viewing figures rising * Some traditional fans deride new formats as gimmicky LONDON, - An enthusiastic announcer rallies the crowd inside London's Copper Box Arena for a noisy five-second countdown to Santan FC vs MVPs United, the former managed by rapper Dave, the latter by popular player Alisha Lehmann and TV host Maya Jama. Former Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg tosses the ball in the air to begin a 30-minute, six-a-side game but before he can take his position on the side, MVPs score in six seconds: the quickest goal yet in the fledgling Baller League UK. Twelve minutes later, it is time for a twist - the "Plus One" rule reduces the teams to one-versus-one plus goalkeepers with the rest allowed back after next goals. Social media-focused soccer tournaments like the German-founded Baller League and Spanish-origin Kings League have sprung up in Europe and elsewhere to offer young consumers a cheaper, crazier and shorter version of traditional 90-minute soccer. Some older fans scoff at these formats as a gimmicky distortion of what Brazilian great Pele called "The Beautiful Game", and predict they will quickly fade. But for now, ex-professionals, online influencers and entertainment figures are piling in. Viewing figures are soaring and investment is mounting into what supporters see as a back-to-roots, playground-style version of the sport. "The way they play the game is the way that kids on the street play it all over the world," EQT Ventures' Partner Ashley Lundstrom told Reuters. 'The ecosystem of fans is so open-minded to a new sport, a new style of sport.' Her company led an investment round for Baller League that raised $25 million in early December 2024. 'SOCIALS BLOWING UP' The UK league, in its inaugural season, has drawn a multitude of personalities including some who could not quite make it in mainstream professional football. "It's so close to being what I've always wanted with being a pro footballer and just having that recognition of, okay, this kid can play," said midfielder Harry Cain, 27, who plays for Yanited managed by YouTuber and Twitch streamer Angryginge. "My socials absolutely blowing up from friends, family. 'Can't believe we just watched you on Sky Sports'." Cain, who produces soccer content for 1 million-plus TikTok followers, said one of his highs was scoring in front of former England international and Baller League UK coach John Terry. The Baller League expanded to the UK this year, with 12 teams, after its founding in Germany in 2023 where games were livestreamed from an old plane hangar in the city of Cologne. The Kings League, established by former Spanish player Gerard Pique, has a growing fanbase, with 80% of its 30 million social media followers under 34. Founded in 2022, the seven-a-side Kings League has expanded to Italy, France, Germany, Brazil and the Americas. "Investors also see that we have a disruptive, creative new product, that is solving perhaps the biggest problem in sports: attracting and retaining the attention of young audiences," Kings League CEO Djamel Agaoua told Reuters. "The increasing competition for audience attention means that it's harder and harder to get younger fans to watch a 90-minute live game." The Kings League raised $60 million in its last funding round last year and is in partnership with Surj Sports Investment, the sports arm of Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, to launch Kings League MENA . With the majority of Saudis under 30, the synergy is obvious. As pay-TV fees increase, the young are increasingly watching sport for free on platforms like YouTube, Kick and Twitch. According to a Deloitte study, about 90% of Generation Z and Millennials consume sport via social media. On the day Santan FC played MVPs United, matchday 8 drew more than 900,000 viewers on YouTube. 'I don't think it's as simple as the older generation watches sports over linear channels and the younger generation does it over social channels,' said Pete Giorgio, global and U.S. sports leader for Deloitte. "Both generations are moving towards a mode where they do not consume sports monolithically." OLD CLUBS TAKING NOTE European clubs have taken note, trying to work with new leagues rather than treat them as rivals. In Italy, Serie A CEO Luigi De Siervo has cast it as a 'cross-marketing" opportunity. Juventus, for example, offer facilities to Zebras FC, a Kings League Italy side led by content creator and Juventus fan Luca Campolunghi. Zebras had 2.5 million engagements across social platforms in its first season. "Collaborating with content creators helps us speak a native digital language that truly resonates with younger audiences,' Juventus' head of brand Gianmarco Pino told Reuters. In France, Ligue 1 club Olympique de Marseille have teamed up to help Kings League France club Wolf Pack FC, founded by former Olympique de Marseille player Adil Rami. However, one football insider in a major European league told Reuters he thought the proliferation of new mini-leagues may prove too much, with one likely to dominate eventually. With the Baller League UK reaching its season finale on Thursday and the Kings World Cup Clubs culminating in Paris on Saturday, the hype is reaching fever-pitch. But not all are convinced. "I just don't think it's particularly entertaining," said a 30-year-old Englishman who supports Premier League team Arsenal and tried the Baller League on YouTube. "Beyond an influencer or a former footballer's team winning, there's no emotional investment in any of these teams which makes it difficult for us to care," he said.
The Sun
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Sun
Baller League UK predictions: Odds and betting preview plus £30 in free bets
THE Final Four contest for the inaugural Baller League UK crown this Thursday. We've taken a look ahead to the indoor action to see if we can pick out the best tips and odds for the big finale. Baller League UK - Final four After 11 grueling gamedays of Baller League UK action, it all comes down to this for the final four. One of Deportrio, MVPs United, Yanited or SDS FC will be crowned the winners of the inaugural competition which has gripped social media. Some big names in the world of sport, entertainment, music and influencing have been involved and now we'll find out the winner. As table toppers after 11 gamedays, Deportrio are rightly the bookies favourites to claim victory on Thursday night - yet strangely go into their semi final with SDS FC as the underdogs, so work that one out. The team managed by Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards have just gone off the boil in recent weeks with just one win in their last five, including a thumping 8-3 defeat from SDS FC last time out. They did however just manage to cling onto top spot on goal difference after winning seven of their 11 games and scoring 42 goals in the process, though need to get back to their early tournament form if they want to win this. Semi final opponents, SDS FC have won their last four games on the spin and haven't tasted defeat since gameday five to finish just three points off the top. In the other semi final, MVPs United - second to Deportrio on goal difference - take on AngryGinge's team Yanited having also both won 7 of their 11 games. The sides met only a couple of weeks ago on the gameday 9 fixture list, with the well-fancied Alisha Lehmann and Maya Jama's side MVPs United coming out 4-3 victors. But Yanited finished the league phase with comfortably the highest goal difference in the competition with +17 after the 11 games - with SDS FC (+12) the only side close. So to sum up, the bookmaker odds are close for both semi finals and the outright markets and it's no wonder why - this is anyone's competition! Baller League UK - Latest odds Semi final odds Deportrio vs SDS FC Deportrio 27/20 Draw 4/1 SDS FC 21/20 MVPs United vs Yanited MVPs United 6/5 Draw 4/1 Yanited 6/5 Outright odds Deportrio 15/8 Yanited 15/8 SDS FC 7/2 MVPs United 4/1 Baller League UK predictions Final Four winner SDS FC lost out to MVPs United on gameday three and started the competition with one win from five games. So it's been an almost upward curve from that moment on and they're an attractive price to win this after last week's heroics. That thumping win over Deportrio to get them here was a big moment and that momentum could well carry them through two more games. *18+. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Time limits and T&Cs apply. Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
