eSports: DFL launches an official competition with EA Sports for its clubs in 2018-19

"This season (2018-19) the clubs of the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga are to receive the opportunity for the very first time to compete against each other and determine the German Club Champion in eFootball," said the body on 20/09/2018. "It is planned that this format will be implemented in association with the company Electronic Arts (owner of the American video game publisher and subsidiary EA Sports)," added the DFL.

"The positive overall development of eSport in past years prompted an exchange between club officials and the DFL in which the strategic relevance of eSport was affirmed and joint initiatives under the umbrella of the DFL were discussed. It was clearly defined and decided by the DFL Board that, with respect to eSport, the DFL will only participate in football simulations. To date (20/09/2018) eleven clubs of the Bundesliga and 2.Bundesliga have e-athletes playing for them on a competitive level," explained the DFL.

"As early as 2012 the DFL, as the very first professional football league, had launched an eFootball competition: the TAG Heuer Virtual Bundesliga (VBL)…