The European Handball Federation has agreed a deal for charitable foundation Play for Change to sponsor referee’s shirts at its national team and club competitions throughout the 2014-15 season, as part of a new six-year partnership with the MP & Silva agency.
Play for Change will benefit from three branding positions on the officials’ tops, with the exception of selected competitions including the final tournaments of the EHF Euro and age-group category events.
The EHF will also support Play for Change’s sports and education initiatives around the world through its communication channels and various joint initiatives, expanding a co-operation established in 2014 where the governing body donated match tickets and merchandise to the auction site iplayforchange.com.
Andrea Radrizzani, group chief executive of MP & Silva and founder of the Play for Change Foundation, said: “This is a significant milestone for Play for Change as we witness our first ever sponsorship deal.”
The cooperation with Play for Change forms part of a new six-season agreement with MP & Silva, under which the agency will extend its involvement in handball having signed a 2013 agreement with EHF Marketing to market the media rights for Europe’s premier club handball competitions.
The new agreement includes the placement of advertising on referee shirts through to the end of the 2019-20 season.