European football clubs embrace cryptocurrency, but fans are divided

Among the clubs to launch tokens in recent months are English Premier League champions Manchester City and Italy’s AC Milan. Spain’s national team says it plans to launch a similar scheme. — Reuters

LONDON: A growing number of major football clubs are launching digital coins that allow fans to vote on a variety of minor decisions as the sport faces slumping revenues caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

But supporters are divided over the so-called fan tokens. Some appreciate the novel way to engage with their teams – and help make decisions, even if only on small-time matters such as the song played at matches after a goal is scored or images used on social media. Others dismiss the tokens as superficial participation that adds to the already growing costs of following their teams.