Banijay Benelux has announced the launch of FC Failliet/Finesse (FCF), described as the Netherlands’ first officially KNVB-registered football club founded by digital creators. The project has been developed by Southfields and Banijay NXT in partnership with creators Ilias Vietto, Aimane Charbon and Kleine John.
The initiative aims to merge professional football with social media storytelling. Based at FC Weesp, FCF is registered to compete in the KNVB Fifth Division West 1, giving it the ability to move up through the Dutch football league system.
According to Banijay Benelux, the club was created to bring together “the universal appeal of football with the creativity of digital creators.” The creators’ participation is intended to combine their online reach with professional competition and sports production.
Southfields and Banijay NXT will produce content documenting FCF’s progress, including daily posts on TikTok and Instagram, and weekly YouTube vlogs. The coverage will include match highlights, training sessions and behind-the-scenes material.
Naique Tanate, Head of Banijay NXT, said: “With FCF, we turned an idea into reality: to combine the universal appeal of football with the creativity of digital creators. The club was conceived with the vision of Southfields and Banijay NXT, in collaboration with Ilias, Aimane and John, and we’re thrilled to bring their stories to audiences around the world.”
The club’s first home match livestream attracted more than 23,000 viewers, according to Southfields, and its social media content has reportedly achieved over 22 million views.
Banijay says the project opens new revenue opportunities across sponsorships, branded content, and digital advertising, while also aiming to connect with younger audiences. The company noted that football participation among teenagers in the Netherlands has been declining, and that initiatives like FCF could help re-engage this demographic through social-first sports content.
The concept reflects Banijay Benelux’s wider strategy of exploring partnerships between traditional production models and digital creator-led formats. The company said FCF represents “a blueprint for the future of entertainment,” positioning creator-driven projects as a growing part of its production and content development activities.
