Featured Image Credit: Baller League
Topics: KSI, IShowSpeed, Gary Lineker, Ronaldinho, Luis Figo, John Terry, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards
Josh Lawless
Topics: KSI, IShowSpeed, Gary Lineker, Ronaldinho, Luis Figo, John Terry, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards
The bizarre list of rules for the Baller League spearheaded by KSI and iShowSpeed have been revealed and it promises to be pure chaos.
The six-a-side project, set up by Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, has been a huge success in their native Germany and it's now been confirmed that the league will be expanding out into the UK and US in March 2025.
And a whole host of huge names from football and the world of influencers and content creators have signed up. KSI is acting as the president of the UK iteration, with iShowSpeed running things across the pond in the US.
Former England trio and BBC broadcasters Gary Lineker, Micah Richards and Alan Shearer will manage a team, as will Arsenal Invincibles Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and Jens Lehmann.
John Terry and Luis Figo are also managing, while the legendary Ronaldinho is slated to be involved in the US edition.
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The concept is similar to Gerard Pique's hugely popular Kings League and sees 12 teams compete in a weekly league in an indoor arena. Games are 15-minute halves and there are 11 matchdays in total and after every side has faced one another once, the top four teams head into a final four tournament to crown the champions in May.
It's six-vs-six on 29 x 50-metre pitch but with some twists as there are new rules which will differ each half and will be introduced for the final three minutes of each, including a three-vs-three format, goals scored from the back two thirds of the pitch (behind the offside line) counting as double and 1v1s starting from behind the halfway line with no hands allowed.
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Going off footage from the inaugural Baller League, it also appears that the MLS one-vs-one style penalties will be utilised.
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Presenter and social media star Chunkz will host the UK action weekly on a Twitch livestream from the London location, while creators like Angry Ginge, Sharky, Miniminter and Tobjizzle are also taking on managerial responsibilities.
Trials will be taking place in London and Manchester and are open to former academy players, street and futsal ballers, free agents or recently retired professionals and Non League footballers.
More details are set to arrive in due course, including the remaining four managers for the UK division.
Speaking on the blockbuster announcement, Baller League CEO, Felix Starck said: "Baller League is a brand new way to consume football.
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"We’re redefining how the game is played by bringing an exhilarating and authentic approach to football, and one that will appeal to current fans along with future generations.
“Baller League is all about forward-thinking, aggressive, hyper-exciting football. We’re about creating a version of the game that’s impossible to ignore - thrilling, bold and packed with excitement.”