Mediapro, DirecTV prep soccer drama

Spanish channels operator and production group Mediapro has linked up with DirecTV’s Latin American division to develop a scripted series about the murder of a football club’s president.

El Fútbol No Es Así is based the novel of the same name by author Pedro Torrens and Javier Tebas, president of the La Liga football league in Spain.

Argentinian writer Eduardo Sacheri (The Secret in their Eyes) has been brought in to develop the series while Spanish director Daniel Calparsoro will direct.

“El Fútbol No Es Así speaks to audiences across all borders,” said Willard Tressel, general manager of OnDirecTV, DirectTV Latin America’s entertainment channel. It airs shows including Fargo, The Missing and Peaky Blinders.

“Football and fiction are both in our group’s DNA and we couldn’t think of a better combination and more ideal partner than DirecTV to take this book to life,” added Óscar López, executive VP of Mediapro Group in the US. “It is a series that we are sure will transcend borders.”