Football
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FA ratifies new FA Cup overseas TV rights deal worth reported $1 billion

The Football Association has announced its board has ratified a "hugely significant'' new overseas broadcast rights deal for the FA Cup.

The agreement, reportedly worth over $1 billion (around £820 million), will run for six seasons starting from 2018-19.

A statement from the FA on Monday said the deal, which also includes rights for the Community Shield and FA Youth Cup, will "ensure the FA Cup's status as the world's original and greatest domestic cup competition."

The FA has signed a memorandum of understanding with Pitch International to cover Western Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and with IMG for the rest of the world.

FA chief executive Martin Glenn said: "This is a hugely significant deal for the FA as a not-for-profit organisation. It means we will be able to invest even more than we currently do in pitches, facilities and participation programmes to make football available for all.

"It is not overstating it to say that it could have a transformational impact on what we are able to achieve across the country. It also underlines the global popularity of the FA Cup. With its history and tradition, it has the remarkable ability to create fantastic stories and inspire fans, players and clubs to believe anything is possible.

"On top of that, by the time we get to the Wembley showpiece next May, more than £30m will have been distributed to competing clubs this season, from the amateur game right through to the elite level.

"We are extremely grateful to Pitch International and IMG for recognising the value of this wonderful competition -- as we are to our other cup partners -- and their support will have a direct and lasting impact in helping us to grow the grassroots and making sure football is for all.''

The FA's statement said the deal comes after it adopted a new rights strategy, with the tender process allowed for agencies -- like Pitch International and IMG -- as well as broadcasters to bid on single territories, regional groupings or a global package of rights.

It added the financial terms would remain confidential, and that domestic rights will remain with the BBC and BT Sport, with an agreement already in place to extend those relationships through to 2021.

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