Japanese watch manufacturer and timing specialist Seiko has agreed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Asian Football Confederation relating to the continental governing body’s club competition programme.
Effective from the 2014 season, Seiko will become the official timing graphics sponsor of the AFC Champions League and a supporter of the AFC’s other club competitions, most notably the AFC Cup and AFC President’s Cup.
Seiko’s branding will adorn on-screen television graphics during broadcasts of the Champions League, which was watched by record numbers of viewers in 2013 as the competition was won by China’s Guangzhou Evergrande.
Seiko’s deal follows similar AFC agreements with Chinese construction machinery manufacturer Shandong Lingong Construction Machinery (SDLG) and beer company Tsingtao Brewery, also spanning three years that were sealed in January and last December respectively. SDLG and Tsingtao are understood to be paying the AFC $2m (€1.46m) per season.
The 2014 Champions League campaign kicks off today.