sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

Gerard Pique is bringing his 'Kings League' to the Nou Camp, 40,000 tickets have already been sold

Gerard Pique is bringing his 'Kings League' to the Nou Camp, 40,000 tickets have already been sold

Gerard Pique's 'Kings League' will put on a huge event at the Nou Camp on 26 March.

Gerard Pique is bring his unique 'Kings League' concept to the Nou Camp for a huge event on 26 March and ticket sales are already through the roof.

Pique hung up his boots in November after a game against Almeria at the Nou Camp but is returning to the stadium in a different capacity.

The former Spain defender set up a new seven-a-side league featuring a total of 12 teams made up of ex professionals, current players and amateurs.

Sergio Aguero has played for his own team in the competition, while Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez, still playing for LA Galaxy, has been involved, as have the likes of Joan Capdevila and Jonathan Soriano.

There's even been a masked player called 'Enigma' in the incredibly unique project, which sees games take place at a warehouse in Barcelona.

But the final four will take to Barcelona's iconic stadium and home since 1957 next month. Pique and Barca president Joan Laporta came to an agreement and made the announcement on January 20 on Twitch.

Image: Kings League
Image: Kings League

Laporta, who has been invited to attend the finals, said: "Pique is part of the Barça shield. When he asked me if he could hold the Kings League finals at the Camp Nou I didn't hesitate to say yes. Pique has invented a way of enjoying football with a lot of fun, especially for the youngsters.

"I think Pique's Kings League is a way of modernising football. It gives it sustainability."

And Mundo Deportivo say already 40,000 tickets have been sold for the spectacle, with the full 90,000 stadium capacity open.

There is still over a month to go and so a complete sell-out is easily possible. Barca will take 50% of the profits for hosting and will install the 7-a-side pitch needed.

Image: Alamy
Image: Alamy

The Kings League, the brainchild of Pique and streamer Ibai Llanos, kicked off on Sunday 1 January after there was an NFL style draft for the first 10 players.

Games are to twenty-minute halves and teams play each other twice. Kick-offs are straight out of water polo and see players charge at each other from their goal-line when the whistle is blown.

If matches are level it goes to a penalty shoot-out but they are in the style of hockey, where players need to score within five seconds in a one-on-one with the goalkeeper.

Unlimited subs are available, while there are also sin bins for yellow and red cards. VAR is in use but only upon request and teams only get one review per game - with a successful appeal meaning they can call upon it again.

And that's not all as the tournament has revolutionary 'Golden Cards' which vary from instant penalty, rob a card, remove an opposition player for two minutes, goal in the next minute counts double, and the classic joker card.

All the fixtures are streamed on Twitch, where hundreds of thousands have tuned in to watch the action.

Featured Image Credit: Kings League & Alamy

Topics: Gerard Pique, Barcelona, La Liga