Compared to the huge success already enjoyed by other European leagues throughout India, options for Scottish football to gain a foothold in overseas markets has often been fraught with difficulty. Nevertheless, some SPL clubs have taken matters into their own hands, showing a potentially lucrative level of adeptness promoting their image and commercial brand.
When stacked against the commercial might and marketing of the English Premier League, Spain’s LaLiga, the German Bundesliga, Serie A in Italy, and even the French Ligue 1, the Scottish Premier League often struggles to attract the attention it deserves. In some respects, this has left the leading clubs to fend for themselves, in order to promote their own brands.
Given the impressive demand for European football throughout the country, Indian fans are frequently searching to find the best online sports betting sites. Asiabet.org for example, offer sports betting options for Cricket fans, Football, Horse racing and many other sports. This shows that they are eager to add extra spice to the enjoyment of watching live games, just like their European counterparts. This is also why live in-game betting has become so popular around the globe.
Of course, having easy access to live matches on TV or quality streams via the internet is vital to the enjoyment of football. This is where Rangers have accomplished something of a coup, establishing a firm foothold and commercial presence already. After a partnership with ISL outfit Bengaluru FC in 2019, the Scottish club have continued strengthening Indian ties.
The agreement between Rangers and Bengaluru is a two-way street, establishing a solid scouting and training relationship which could benefit both clubs. Players and coaching staff from India have travelled to Scotland, participating in training courses and other learning activities. Meanwhile, the Glasgow club will regularly send representatives to India, establishing training camps for some of the most promising local talents.
Rangers also hit the headlines in January 2020, signing iconic Indian women’s footballer Bala Devi. The 30-year-old striker has an exceptional scoring record, with 65 goals in 80 appearances for the Indian Women’s National Team. Shortly before departing for Scotland, she also demonstrated why her ability is highly rated, scoring an incredible 26 goals in just seven games for Manipur Police, her former club in the Indian Women’s League.
Bala Devi is hopeful that her move to Europe will prove inspirational to other women in India, having become the first female player to sign a professional contract outside her home country. Needless to say, the following for Bala Devi back in India is a huge boon for Rangers, highlighting that with the right combination of talent and hard work, both male and female players from India have a genuine pathway to opportunities in Scotland.
Needless to say, fans back in India are keen to see their favourite women’s footballer in action for Rangers. While that might entail a difficult search for poor quality internet streams under normal circumstances for many Asian fans, Rangers have now agreed an exclusive broadcast deal with Star Sports Network India.
While this move is obviously part of an exciting media and marketing push by the Scottish club, the coverage itself will be extensive. The broadcast deal includes live broadcasts whenever Rangers are playing in the Scottish Premier League, along with 15 games featuring other teams in the same competition, plus the friendly encounter with Bengaluru FC next summer.
Along with plenty of behind-the-scenes content for Indian viewers, they will also get to follow the progress of Bala Devi on her Scottish adventure with Rangers, given that full coverage of all her League and Cup games will also be broadcast. In years to come, this extensive partnership will undoubtedly blossom into a great long-term relationship.