9th Aug 2005 13:34
RAM Investment Group PLC09 August 2005 9 August 2005 THE WORLD'S 55 BEST FOOTBALLERS UNVEILED RAM Investment Group plc (RAM), the AIM listed leisure and media investmentcompany, today announces that FIFPro (Federation Internationale desAsssociations de Footballeurs Professionnels) have unveiled the 55 shortlisted footballers for the inaugural FIFPro World XI Player Awards. RAM acquired exclusive rights to the FIFPro World XI Player Awards for a fiveyear period in April 2005, with an option to extend the rights after the firstfive events. The acquisition of the rights allows RAM, in partnership withFIFPro, to exploit, in all media, broadcast, production, promotion andcommercial sales opportunities including sponsorship, merchandising, licensing,SMS and all telephone and other exploration rights during the period. Since April 2005, 38,000 professional footballers across the globe have beennominating their peers, through a secret ballot, for the chance to be recognisedas one of the world's top XI football players - choosing four defenders, fourmidfielders, two forwards and the goalkeeper they most admire. The winning global team is to be announced at the awards evening at London'sWembley Conference and Exhibition Centre on September 19 2005. Laurence Selman, Director of RAM said, "The FIFPro World XI Player Awards arelooking very promising for RAM. With the recent announcement of the 55shortlisted nominees, this is a further demonstration of the commitment byfootballers worldwide; voting for their peers is a significant first for anevent that seeks to be unforgettable." The inaugural event will feature live music performances from some of theworld's most popular artists with a guest list including celebrities from theworlds of football, music, film and television. The 55 player shortlist in full is: (Home country/ Club 2004/2005) Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy/ Juventus), Iker Cassillas (Spain/ RealMadrid), Petr Cech (Czech Republic/ Chelsea), Nelson Dida (Brazil/ AC Milan) andOliver Kahn (Germany/ Bayern Munchen). Defenders: Alex (Brazil/ PSV), Roberto Ayala (Argentina/ Valencia), Cafu (Brazil/ AC Milan), Sol Campbell (England/ Arsenal), Fabio Cannavaro (Italy/ Juventus),Roberto Carlos (Brazil/ Real Madrid), Ricardo Carvalho (Portugal/ Chelsea),Ashley Cole (England/ Arsenal), Rio Ferdinand (England/ Manchester United),Gabriel Heinze (Argentina/ Manchester United), Lucio (Brazil/ Bayern Munchen),Paolo Maldini (Italy/ AC Milan), Alessandro Nesta (Italy/ AC Milan), CarlosPuyol (Spain/ Barcelona), Walter Samuel (Argentina/ Real Madrid), Jaap Stam(Holland/ AC Milan), John Terry (England/ Chelsea), Lilian Thuram (France/Juventus), Gianluca Zambrotta (Italy/ Juventus) and Javier Zanetti (Argentina/Inter). Midfielders: Michael Ballack (Germany/ Bayern Muchen), David Beckham (England/Real Madrid), Joe Cole (England/ Chelsea), Anderson Deco (Portugal/ Barcelona),Luis Figo (Portugal/ Real Madrid), Gennaro Gattuso (Italy/ AC Milan), StevenGerrard (England/ Liverpool), Ricardo Kaka (Brazil/ AC Milan), Frank Lampard(England/ Chelsea), Claude Makalele (France/ Chelsea), Pavel Nedved (CzechRepublic/ Juventus), Andrea Pirlo (Italy/ AC Milan), Arjen Robben (Holland/Chelsea), Ronaldinho (Brazil/ Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal/Manchester United), Paul Scholes (England/ Manchester United), Mark van Bommel(Holland/ Barcelona), Patrick Vieira (England/ Arsenal), Xavi Hernandez (Spain/Barcelona) and Zinedine Zidane (France/ Real Madrid). Forwards: Adriano (Brazil/ Inter), Hernan Crespo (Argentina/ AC Milan), DidierDrogba(Ivory Coast/ Chelsea), Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon/ Barcelona), Thierry Henry(France/ Arsenal), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden/ Juventus), Ronaldo (Brazil/ RealMadrid), Wayne Rooney (England/ Manchester United), Andriy Shevchenko (Ukraine/AC Milan), and Ruud van Nistelrooij (Holland/ Manchester United). Three further awards will be presented on the night - the World Player of theYear, awarded to the player with the most votes, the FIFPro Legend, voted for bythe FIFPro Awards Committee, and the Young Player of the Year voted for by fansacross the globe in the only public voting category of the awards. The awards evening will be the world's first and only international player-votedfootball awards ever staged and broadcast globally. RAM announced in May 2005,that Sky One signed exclusive rights to broadcast the FIFPro World XI PlayerAwards, alongside further broadcasting agreements in China, Africa and Hispanicspeaking US. The total potential audience is some 650m people. The TV show will be produced by Celador Music & Events (a subsidiary of CeladorInternational), whose production team includes some of the most experienced andrespected names in live television entertainment (with credits including WhoWants To Be A Millionaire? and The BRIT Awards.) and who promise to deliver avisually stunning show using pioneering state-of-the-art production techniques. To book a table for the awards please contact RAM Investment Group plc on 0208349 2001. For further information, please contact: Tracy Lloyd-Watts/Savita TulsianiBeattie Communications020 7053 6000 Notes to Editors About RAM Investment Group plcRAM Investment Group is an AIM listed investment company that focuses oninvestment opportunities in the media and leisure sector, specifically seekinglow risk, high return investments. About FIFPROIs the worldwide representative organisation for all professional players. Atthe moment 40 national players' associations are members of FIFPRO. It is ademocratic player driven organisation that actively seeks to promote theindividual and collective interests of the players. FIFPRO is the exclusive collective international voice of the world'sprofessional footballers. It is a truly global organisation with members inAfrica, South America, North America, Scandinavia and Eastern and WesternEurope. About Celador InternationalCelador International specialises in the development, distribution and licensingof some of the world's most successful television and entertainment properties.Pulling in audiences of hundreds of millions of viewers around the world, itson-screen formats are synonymous with quality entertainment and commercialsuccess. Off-screen, it's the name behind a wide range of incredibly successfulbrand extensions through consumer products, promotions and compellinginteractive media experiences. Celador Music & Events was established in October2003 as a subsidiary of Celador International. Its focus is to develop, createand produce ambitious events and music shows. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock ExchangeRelated Shares:
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