EA Set to Enter Online Football Management

Electronic Arts have revealed today that they will be launching a Fantasy Football league in the US on July 21. Predictably, it will be based on American Football rather than our proper football, where ‘foot’ actually bears relevance, but it does sounds promising nevertheless. Wannabe managers will have to pay $9.99 to enter, but EA will be issuing prizes - of an EA Sports variety of course - on a weekly basis to the wining participants.

Chip Lange, vice president of EA Sports Nation announced ,“We’re taking EA Sports...to another level by bringing fantasy football to our online EA Sports fans. We’re challenging all comers – you think you know football? Now prove it; EA Sports style.”

The fact that Lange mentioned the whole EA Sports range could well mean a FIFA-based equivalent. There are plenty of Europeans who would go crazy for an online fantasy football league, as the success of previous attempts would testify, and this captive audience would be prime fodder for some intensive videogame-related marketing.

The American Football version has only just come to light, so news of a soccer version is yet to be confirmed. However, EA would have a few weeks to organise a potential launch, as the next domestic season doesn’t kick off until August. The next FIFA game isn’t due until after then anyway, so any details are unlikely to emerge before the end of summer.