Arsenal Gets Cheated By Chinese Conman
Jul 17, 2018, by Chris
In April 2018, Arsenal announced a global agreement with the world’s best-selling electric vehicle manufacturer, BYD Auto, to become the club's official car and bus partner. Now it has emerged that the Arsenal deal with China-based BYD (Build Your Dreams) was not signed with the carmaker.
The deal Arsenal signed with BYD was not between the official carmaker and the club but with a person illegally conducted marketing activities in BYD’s name over the past three years, and signed deals involving dozens of partner.
The Chinese carmaker says it was duped by a person posing as an employee who signed unauthorized contracts with advertising partners. BYD Co., an electric-car maker backed by Warren Buffett, asked the police to investigate a person who it says damaged its reputation and harmed related parties. Arsenal, which announced a pact with BYD in April, says the carmaker informed the English Premier League club that the deal was among those potentially affected by a fraud.
The person isn’t an employee and never has been, and BYD hasn’t authorized the person to conduct business in its name, the Shenzhen-based company said in a statement to the Hong Kong stock exchange Monday. The carmaker also said it reported to the police a forged company seal, which may have been used to stamp contracts that the person awarded.
BYD originally disclosed some details of the case last month, and on July 12 it said in a statement on Chinese social media that “with the deepening of understanding, BYD believes that this incident has a greater impact on the advertising media industry and will cause greater losses to related companies.”
Arsenal said it is investigating the situation while talking to senior management of BYD. A spokesman for the club declined to comment beyond the statement.
BYD fell 5.7 percent in Hong Kong, the biggest drop since March 28.
FUS Rabat 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
Moroccan Botola Pro side FUS Rabat has officially unveiled its new home and away kits for the 26-27 season, manufactured by Spanish brand Joma. The capital club steps into the new campaign with a coordinated and sharp visual identity across both strips.
The Joma FUS Rabat 26-27 home shirt is predominantly red, anchored by a prominent central white stripe that runs down the body, broken only for the main sponsor. The fabric features an understated tonal texture throughout, accompanied by a clean white crew neck collar. Inverting the look, the 26-27 away shirt relies on a clean white base centered around a bold red vertical stripe and matching red accents.
Both jerseys carry the traditional FUS Rabat crest on the left chest, with Novec Groupe CDG and Cosumar featured as shirt sponsors. The away kit also includes neat Arabic calligraphy spelling out "Rabat" on the upper back above the player names and numbers. Matching shorts and socks complete the Moroccan club's new 26-27 wardrobe.
Sam Kerr Debuts Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 Signature Boots
Sam Kerr has officially given her new Nike Mercurial signature boots their on-pitch debut, stepping out for Gotham FC in the vibrant design. Following Nike's official launch of the pair on September 21, 2026, the Australian forward wasted no time lacing them up for competitive action. Kerr took to the pitch wearing her preferred low-cut iteration of the silhouette, continuing her longstanding preference for low collars over the high dynamic fit collar.
This boot follows Kerr's debut signature Mercurial from 2025, which took inspiration from the coastal beaches of her hometown Perth.
Croatia Debuts Adidas 26-27 Away Kit
Croatia officially kicked off its new era with Adidas on Saturday night, debuting the 26-27 away kit during a 2-1 UEFA Nations League victory against Czechia in Prague. The match marked the first on-pitch appearance for the Vatreni in the three stripes following the conclusion of their 26-year partnership with Nike this summer.
The new Croatia 26-27 away strip is predominantly deep blue and features an intricate tonal graphic inspired by the country's centuries-old lacemaking heritage from regions such as Pag and Lepoglava. The textured pattern is complemented by vibrant coral red accents across the V-neck collar, sleeve cuffs, and shoulder stripes, while the chest features a clean white Trefoil logo opposite the federation crest.
Completed with matching deep blue shorts and socks, the kit looked sharp on the pitch and has earned praise from supporters for its blend of cultural motifs and modern detailing.
