Alipay, the Chinese payments platform controlled by business mogul Jack Ma, has struck an eight-year deal with Uefa to become the body’s official global payment partner for all national tournaments.
The sponsorship deal, thought to be worth €200m (£175m), will mean Alipay will be accepted at all venues hosting Uefa’s national competitions between 2018 and 2026, including the Euro 2020, taking place across Europe, and the Euro 2024, to be held in Germany.
Mastercard earlier this year extended its sponsorship deal with Uefa for the Champions League tournament through to 2021. The US company has been associated with Uefa since 1994.
Currently only Chinese residents or bank account holders can open Alipay accounts, and the deal is thought to have been struck to make it easier for Chinese tourists visiting Europe to use their digital wallets in the football venues.
Around 700m people in China currently use the platform, which connects to their bank account, allowing them to scan a barcode to complete a payment.
Be the first to comment