Manchester City Football Club is being sued by global fashion brand Superdry over their training kit — specifically, their Asashi sponsorship logo.
As per Law360, a High Court claim has been filed against the football club for an alleged case of trademark infringement due to the placement of the beer sponsor on their primary blue training gear and pre-match apparel, which is stylised as ‘Asahi Super Dry 0.0’.
Man City signed on to wear the Japanese alcohol brand on various bits of official club kit in July 2023 and the branding itself has been featured on television on multiple occasions, resulting in the fashion label of the same name accusing the club of breaching their 20-year-old trademark.
The UK-based company claims that “the differences between Super ‘Dry’ [Asahi’s stylicisation] and Superdry are so insignificant that they may go unnoticed by the average consumer.”
Superdry reportedly requested an “injunction to restrain” the football club from using its name in papers lodged in London on 15 December and is also said to be pursuing costs but is “presently unable to quantify the exact financial value of this claim”.
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Founded in 2003, Superdry boasts over 515 locations in 46 different countries, including three in Greater Manchester: Manchester Arndale, Trafford Centre and Superdry Bury Store.
If found guilty of the lawsuit, which was launched on 15 December, the trial date is expected to take place around August It is unclear how much of a financial penalty the club would incur.
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Since the suit arose, fans may have noticed that Asahi’s branding on City’s training and pre-match kits has now been updated, simply reading as ‘Asahi 0.0%’.
Man City are now donning new training and pre-match jerseys following the Superdry lawsuit. (Credit: IG)
Quoted in The Telegraph, Philip Roberts KC — representing Fox Williams LLP on behalf of the fashion brand — said that the club would need to carry out “destruction or modification upon oath of all goods and other items… [which] would constitute a breach of the injunctions”.
As seen above, this has now been done with the alteration of the Asahi sponsorship print and wording, but the barrister said, “The sponsored kit is identical to each of the selected goods” and is “identical with or similar to the mark for which the Superdry Registrations are registered”.
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He goes on to add that the circumstances “give rise to a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public”. The club has yet to issue an official response but, given the changes that have now been made, they will be hoping for a resolution.
The City Football Group also still has 115 FFP charges looming over its head as football fans everywhere wait to learn of their fate.
Featured Images — Manchester City/Comma Papana BS200 (via Wikimedia Commons)
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Phil Foden picks up Premier League Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester City forward Phil Foden has picked up the Premier League’s Player of the Year award for the 2023/24 season.
Having enjoyed the best statistical campaign to date, with two games still left to play, the Stockport-born star City and England star has swept up his first-ever Premier League POTY award at the age of 23.
The attacking midfielder has already swept up Young Player of the Year twice in his career (2021 and 2022), which was awarded to former teammate Cole Palmer on Friday, and this accolade just goes to show how much of a first-team star he’s become over the past couple of years.
With both awards going to Manc footballers and Foden being the first Englishman to win it since Jamie Vardy in 2015/16, you’ll hear no complaints from us.
Foden has 25 goals and 11 assists this season, his highest tally ever, and with the chance of a domestic double still looming, he could be set for another unreal 12 months in sky blue.
Pep Guardiola’s side simply needs to beat West Ham this Sunday to win their fourth consecutive Premier League title and with a Manchester derby FA Cup final waiting for them next week, the local lad has a big fortnight ahead of him.
Having already become a treble winner with Man City last season, not to mention emerging as one of the first names on the team sheet for the Three Lions, he’s graduated from one of the most talented youngsters to one of the most impressive in Europe – and he’s got the stats to back it up.
Here’s hoping he can round off this year with some more silverware while wearing an England shirt. Here are some of his highlights from this season:
A huge congratulations to Phil Foden on winning the 23/24 Premier League Player of the Year; regardless of who you support, you can’t deny he’s been unreal this season.
In fact, his emergence as a senior figure and somewhat of a leader in this current City side has given us a lot faith for the summer and we’re more convinced than ever that Gareth Southgate must try and build around him if we stand a chance of going for in Euro 2024.
Is it coming home and will a lad from Stockport play a big part in bringing it here?
Cole Palmer wins Premier League’s Young Player of the Year for 2023/24
Danny Jones
Manchester-born and bred footballer, Cole Palmer, has won the Premier League’s Young Player of the Year award for 2023/24 following a spectacular breakthrough campaign.
The ex-Manchester City youth product made his big-money move to Chelsea at the start of this season and has been comfortably one of the best players in the league this year, once again proving the old adage that if you’re good enough you’re old enough.
Sitting second in the race for the Golden Boot behind former teammate Erling Haaland and shining as one of the most creative midfielders in Europe in his first full season, you could have banked on him winning it months ago.
🔵⭐️ OFFICIAL: Cole Palmer wins the award as Premier League Young Player of the Year. 🧊
Chelsea star has scored 22 goals and provided 10 assists in Premier League this season. pic.twitter.com/HYpthQiOU3
Having bagged a hattrick in Chelsea’s remarkable turnaround against Manchester United as well as bagging four against Everton, just to name a couple of his most impressive performances over the past 12 months, he doesn’t like a player who only made a handful of appearances last year.
With the 22-year-old fittingly netting 22 goals not to mention 10 assists and quickly establishing himself as Mauricio Pochettino’s main man, despite the multi-billion squad assembled around him, it’s been nothing short of a remarkable emergence onto the biggest stage.
Having earned his first senior international call-up through his efforts too, he now looks set to be one the players England fans are dying to see start at the Euros – the point where many Blues are now wondering whether they made a mistake letting him go.
Congratulations to the Wythenshawe native on his well-deserved award and we sincerely look forward to seeing what he does in an England shirt this summer.
As for who will pick up the outright Premier League Player of the Year, surely Palmer picking up the youth award means that Phil Foden is set to mop up the main prize?
A clean sweep for Manc footballers. We like the sound of that.