Gerard Piqué, one of the top Spanish football players, is easing into retirement with a new hobby. He’s joining a league of streamers in an event called the Kings League. Not only is he bringing his football experience to the team, but he and a few others are changing some of the rules.
Let’s take a detailed look at this footballer’s contribution to the Kings League and how you can participate. We’ll also look at the innovative changes that may influence the sport in 2023 and reconnect with a younger audience.
Who is Gerard Piqué?
For those of you who don’t follow football, specifically Spanish football, you may not know who Gerard Piqué. He’s a professional football player who recently retired from the sport. With several titles behind his name, he was a defending player for FC Barcelona.
Piqué wasn’t only well-known for playing football. He had a reputation for speaking his mind during interviews, answering questions straight to the point. He held nothing back, and the fans ate it up like a Sunday night dessert. If he didn’t agree with something, he made sure everyone knew about it.
Did you know he also owned a football club? He acquired FC Andorra, a Spanish club that he led to greatness. He also bought the Davis Cup tournament, which he helped organize better with vast improvements. With all this talent and innovation, he’s definitely not been sitting still after retirement. Besides discussing how football can be changed, he’s now also involved with the Kings League.
What is the Kings League?
After giving it some thought, Gerard Piqué decided to take the lead in a tournament called the Kings League. Basically, it consists of 12 teams with former football players, streamers, and people from the public. Drafting took place on December 27, 2022, where Piqué and others chose who would take part in the specialized clubs.
Every Sunday will host matches in Barcelona until the playoffs. The streaming will take place on the official Twitch channel, which is where you’ll be able to see and support all of the action. At the moment, the commentary will mostly be in Spanish.
What are the new rules?
As mentioned, Piqué wasn’t happy with current football rules, so he decided to make some changes to the Kings League. He wanted to make sure viewers were more engaged with the viewing content. Some might see these changes are drastic, while others will say they’re revolutionary.
Here’s a summary of the new Kings League rules:
- Two halves of 20 minutes each, making a total of 40 minutes per match.
- A water polo type kickoff
- Numbers available from 0 to 99
- Yellow card means two minutes out of the game
- Red card means expulsion; after five minutes, a substitute may enter
- Unlimited substitutions
- Penalty shootout from the middle of the field when there’s a tie
When and where to watch the King’s League
The Kings League website hosts all the match schedules and details if you want to follow the tournament. There is also an official Twitter account that shows any changes to the dates, so make sure you follow the account. The matches start in January and will be played over a few weeks before the playoffs.
If you want to watch any of the action, you’ll need to head over to the main Kings League Twitch account, where matches will be streamed. Clubs might also host their own streams on the platform or on YouTube, so make sure you get all the details of your top teams before the games air online.
How you can participate in the Kings League
One way to register to be part of the Kings League tournament is to register on the official website. Drafting will take place at a specific time before the matches begin, but they might look at others in case players drop out. Remember, anyone from the public can participate, as long as they undergo physical training.
If you can meet the physical requirements and show what skill you have, you might be able to join one of the 12 teams.
