Retired football icons like Gerard Pique, Kaka, Miguel Layun, Claudio Marchisio, and Bastian Schweinsteiger are no strangers to the World Cup stage, having collectively participated in 13 tournaments and secured three victories. However, their recent virtual meeting wasn`t a look back at their glorious pasts. Instead, they connected online, navigating connectivity challenges, to address critics of the Kings League and various other topics related to the competition.
During a digital press conference lasting an hour this week, Miguel Layun openly embraced the opposition, stating, “Thank you for the haters… We love haters here. We are in the circus planet, so it`s all about [entertainment] and haters are part of entertainment.”
The Kings League has rapidly become a focal point of discussion in the football world. Some see it as a fresh, inventive way to engage younger audiences, while others believe it`s merely trying to unnecessarily alter the fundamental nature of the sport. Launched by Pique in 2022 as his primary venture after retiring, this seven-a-side league originated in Spain and has since grown internationally, even scheduling its second Kings World Cup Clubs event in Paris soon. Beyond its famous participants, the league is recognized for its unique format and dynamic rulebook, which prohibits draws, allows endless substitutions, and includes specific rules that can lead to one-on-one scenarios within matches.
This competition structure is deliberately crafted with Gen Z and Gen Alpha demographics in view, segments known for their engagement with video games featuring constantly evolving rules to maintain novelty. This focus isn`t the sole element sparking debate; Pique has publicly stated his belief that traditional 90-minute football matches are excessively long. He supports this by citing data indicating a reluctance among younger viewers for such extended commitments, positioning this as a key rationale behind the Kings League`s design. Such ideas have attracted investment from entities like Saudi Arabia`s Public Investment Fund but have also drawn criticism from figures like La Liga president Javier Tebas.
Despite the controversy, Pique maintains that the Kings League is not intended to replace traditional football.
“We consistently describe ourselves as highly complementary to football,” Pique explained. “Recently, I drew a comparison to films and television series – they are distinct yet quite similar products, and people enjoy both. Likewise, viewers can follow traditional football on conventional television while simultaneously engaging with the Kings League on their phone, iPad, tablet, or other devices. This younger generation is adept at this simultaneous consumption across multiple screens due to their differing media habits.”
Pique has also drawn parallels between the Kings League experience and video gaming, a strategy the organization asserts is effective. He reported on Tuesday that the previous Kings World Cup Clubs tournament in Italy last January saw over 100 million unique viewers across its live streams throughout the competition. The final match between Brazil and Colombia alone reached a peak of over 3.5 million devices streaming live.
According to the league`s proponents, its primary draw for younger audiences is its emphasis on entertainment. This focus is as unconventional as the league`s rules themselves, extending even to deliberate, attention-grabbing responses to criticism.
“When confronted by haters or opposition, our approach is to handle it humorously,” Pique commented. “I recall Javier Tebas, the president of La Liga. When we launched, he was opposed and called us a circus. In response, we brought in [Sergio] Aguero, dressed him as a clown, and he played a match.”
Fitting for a competition that generates considerable debate, the entertainment derived from these retired stars` new venture isn`t solely in countering criticism.
Miguel Layun added, “I simply fell in love with it because, in my view, football is entertainment, you know? As children, we dreamed of becoming footballers primarily because we loved playing and watching the sport. Sometimes during a career, you can lose sight of that, focusing only on winning matches or titles, and you might forget that you are playing for the people.”
Benedict Kingsley