PayPal inks four-year partnership with Football Association
PayPal has been made the official payments partner of The Football Association (FA) in a four-year partnership that will see the two invest in grassroots football community football.
The first milestone of the agreement is to tackle the shift from cash to digital payments through The FA Matchday App. Currently, 80% of clubs rely on cash which means some may suffer from late or missing payments.
By pushing payments through The FA Matchday App, the partnership hopes to enable over a million grassroots players to pay their match fees with their smartphones. They believe millions of extra pounds could be collected digitally by grassroots clubs every season.
Alongside transforming how managers, players and parents pay their match fees, in the future, even fines incurred from red or yellow cards will be paid for on the app.
Commenting on the partnership with PayPal, Russell James, director of digital engagement at The FA, said: “This signals our intent to further bring grassroots football into the digital age, making the game more accessible for all.
"Importantly this service will help save time and reduce administration for those people who dedicate their time to organising the football that so many people enjoy. Working with PayPal, the market leaders in their field, can only have a positive impact for everyone at grassroots football.”
Rob Harper, director of mobile payments & partnerships at PayPal UK, added: “Technology is enabling us to move away from cash in almost all aspects of life, and the beautiful game is next. Those forgotten fivers to pay for subs soon add up, and become a real headache for managers.
"Together with The FA, we’ve devised an easy way for players to leave their wallet or chequebook at home, and use their PayPal digital wallet to settle up instead. With over 24 million PayPal account holders in the UK, we are well placed to drive positive and lasting change for the sport.”