Barcelona, which won the Champions League this year, have teamed up with the company that is a big supporter of football in Southeast Asia.

Known as one of the most successful beers in Asia and also one of the region's major football competition sponsors, Tiger Beer has helped lift the level of soccer in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singa-pore and Vietnam and been an inspiration to both players and fans, who want to improve the level of their game.

The deal was signed at the Tiger Beer headquarters in Singapore this month by Les Buckley, the Commercial Director of Asia Pacific Breweries Ltd, and Javier Muno, the International Marketing Director of FC Barcelona, one of the most successful multi-sports clubs not only in Spain, but also the world.

Buckley said: "Tiger Beer has always supported football at the regional and international levels for more than a decade. This landmark partnership with FC Barcelona is in tandem with Tiger's long-term goal to create football passion and enhance the soccer scene for fans.

"In addition, we hope this contract will inspire soccer fans and players to heighten the level of the game in this region."

As for Thailand, Tiger Beer Marketing Manager Nipol Swadipongpan said: "We hope that this initiative will give a new dimension to ongoing football activities for soccer fans in Thailand to enhance their sport experience and excitement."

Meanwhile, Juventus midfielder Patrick Vieira could become Barcelona's fourth summer signing, El Mundo Deportivo newspaper reported yesterday.

Barcelona have already snapped up French international Lilian Thuram and Gianluca Zambrotta of Italy, from Juventus, plus Iceland's Eidur Gudjohnsen from Chelsea.

Agencies,

The Nation