Sky Sports has looked east for its latest set of football rights – acquiring the Ping An Chinese Football Association Super League competition.

CSL

The broadcaster has picked up the rights for the next three seasons to the league which features international stars including former Chelsea midfielder Ramires, Newcastle United’s Obafemi Martins, Arsenal’s Gervinho and Southampton’s Graziano Pelle.

Coverage kicks off on 30 July when Shanghai Greenland Shenhua face Jiangsu Suning, before former England manager Sven Goran Eriksson’s side Shanghai SIPG take on Guangzhou R&F the following day.

The CSL season runs from March to November, with 16 teams competing for the title and Sky Sports showing the action until 2018. The rights deal was negotiated with IMG on behalf of CSL.

Sky Sports head of football Gary Hughes said: “The Ping An Chinese Super League is attracting players from Europe and is creating a really exciting competition that will only add to an incredible line up of live football on Sky Sports.” 

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