SBC News Voice of the Sports Betting Industry
The English Football League (EFL) has been working with Genius Sports in launching a new fantasy football game.
Fantasy EFL now enables players to choose from over 2,000 players across 72 teams. The game will officially commence for the 2024/25 season, which kicks-off 10 August, and lasts throughout the entirety of the season ending 3 May.
Genius Sports’ Chief Partnerships Officer, Steven Burton, said: “Fantasy EFL is unique, interactive, and fun and Genius Sports is delighted to deliver this exciting new game for the EFL and its Member clubs.
“This new game will test fans’ knowledge of both teams and individual players while providing them with a platform to compete with their friends and family every week.”
Players can now access Fantasy EFL by downloading a new app from the iOS and Android stores. Users can pick up to seven players from across the three EFL leagues to make their fantasy league team each gameweek.
The partners detailed that unlike similar fantasy football leagues such as the Premier League, there are no budget or price tags attached to players, enabling more flexibility on a week-to-week basis for players to choose their squads.
Moreso, teams can be selected from a variety of seven-a-side formations, including 1-2-2-2, 1-2-3-1 or 1-3-2-1.
Gameweeks will be set from Thursdays through to Wednesdays to accommodate double gameweeks and midweek Sky Bet EFL fixtures. Players must also select two EFL Clubs to score extra points based on the result of their EFL fixtures for that gameweek.
Players can then win points for each player selected; five points for a win, three points for a draw, two points for an away win, two points for a clean sheet, and an additional two points for two or more goals scored by a player.
EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, added: “We’re very excited to bring the EFL’s first fantasy football game to life as a central product that engages not only with supporters of all 72 EFL clubs, but also the wider football audience.
“We’ve interrogated research into what fans would want out of an EFL fantasy football game and been strategic in providing a product that isn’t just a copy of what is already in the market.
“Fantasy EFL is a premium product that enhances the EFL brand and opens further opportunities with our broadcasters and commercial partners. Alongside Genius Sports, Fantasy EFL appeals to both the avid and casual fan and will expand the rising interest in the Sky Bet EFL, our clubs and their players beyond fans who attend matches and those who watch along at home.”
