UEFA Women’s EURO sponsor Starling Bank has created the ‘first ever’ Fantasy Football game ahead of the tournament in July.
Developed by the tournament’s national banking partner, the game intends to broaden the representation for Women’s football.
In the past all major men’s football tournaments have been accompanied by Fantasy Football games. More than eight million people currently play the Men’s Fantasy Premier League.
The news comes weeks after PepsiCo reaffirmed its long-term commitment to sponsoring the 2022 UEFA Women’s EURO.
Alongside Starling Bank, the first bank in the UK to be founded by a woman, Rachel Yankey, the first woman in the UK to become a professional footballer, will launch the fantasy football game. Women’s football experts Girls on the Ball, will also provide regular match analysis to inform players’ Fantasy teams.
According to the banking association, nearly two-thirds (63%) of people in the UK believe Women’s football should have the same exposure as Men’s football, with an additional one in five people stating that they would play Fantasy Football linked to a women’s tournament.
READ MORE: UEFA Women’s Euro 2022 set to make £54m for England
“As a youngster I shaved my hair and pretended to be a boy just to fit in,” former England player and Starling Bank ambassador, Rachel Yankey, said.
“Nowadays, the final for this tournament has already sold out Wembley Stadium before a ball has even been kicked. However, the playing field isn’t level yet – every move towards equality makes a big difference.”
“I’m so excited to build my first Fantasy team that features England Lionesses.”
The game will be free to play and give players a fantasy budget of £84 million.
Starling Bank chief banking officer and former Olympic athlete, Helen Bierton, added: “We built Starling bank to give people the bank we thought they deserved. Now, here we are again, launching another industry first, this time for Women’s Football. I hope this gets people talking about the brilliance of women footballers even more – as well as improving people’s budgeting skills!”
The UEFA Women’s EURO 2022 is predicted to be the biggest women’s sporting event in European history.
Girls on the Ball co-founder Rachel O’Sullivan concluded: “It’s time we had a Fantasy league for the UEFA Women’s EURO. Fantasy Football is about so much more than creating a dream team and competing with your friends. It gets people invested in different players, watching the matches evermore closely, and celebrating players’ football skills irrespective of national borders.”
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