Premier League Announces Cooperation Agreement With Asian Football Confederation

The Premier League "has strengthened its links with its most important overseas market" by signing a cooperation agreement with the Asian Football Confederation, according to the PA. The agreement was signed by Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore and AFC President Sheikh Salman Bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa. It will see the EPL continue to operate its Premier Skills coaching program in AFC countries, "while the two bodies set up joint marketing initiatives involving their member clubs." The AFC "will provide support" for the Premier League and its clubs in their promotion and marketing activity in Asia, while "partnership programmes between professional clubs will be encouraged" (PA, 3/14). Commercially, the EPL and AFC will create seminars and study visits that allow clubs in both regions to share knowledge and expertise. Of the 804 million homes to which the EPL is broadcast, 52.7% are in the AFC region and the average weekly audience in Asia is an estimated 25-30 million (EPL).