CONCACAF ends Copa America marketing deal with Datisa
CONCACAF has ended its relationship with Argentinean sports marketing company Datisa with regard to commercial rights for the upcoming Copa America.
The governing body announced the news Wednesday. Datisa had previously held exclusive rights to sell sponsorships and commercial space on broadcasts for the Copa America Centenario (centennial) in 2016, which will include teams from the North, Central and Caribbean soccer federations in addition to South American teams.The rights have been returned to CONCACAF immediately.
“CONCACAF and Datisa have agreed to end their relationship for the sale of sponsorship and broadcast rights associated with Copa America Centenario,” CONCACAF wrote in a statement. “CONCACAF will assume control of its commercial rights while it, CONMEBOL and their local operating partners identify and select new partners to market and sell the tournament’s commercial rights using a new and transparent process.”
Datisa had been involved in the marketing scandal that involved CONCACAF and CONMEBOL, with three of its main partners indicted in the U.S. Department of Justice’s investigation into corruption within world soccer. The marketing organization, a joint venture of Traffic Sports, Full Play and Torneos y Competencias, has been linked to over $100 million in bribes over Copa America Centenario alone.
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The original agreement pertained only to the upcoming Copa America and will not affect the marketing of any other CONCACAF tournaments.
Earlier in the week, CONMEBOL, South America’s governing body, also cut ties with Datisa. The United States was originally set to host the tournament in 2016, but Datisa’s involvement had proven a hang-up for U.S. Soccer. ESPNFC reported on Thursday that an announcement regarding the USA hosting Copa America Centenario is imminent.
- Jeremy Woo
