New Balance Appeal Rejected: Nike Liverpool Kit Deal Confirmed
Update: The Times' Liverpool correspondent Paul Joyce earlier today confirmed that New Balance's appeal against the High Court's kit case verdict has been rejected. Liverpool will wear Nike kits from next season.
A few days after the verdict was announced and just as many had expected, New Balance today launched a formal appeal against the High Court's decision.
It took just three days for the court to come to the decision to smash New Balance's arguments and allow Liverpool to leave the brand to join up with Nike on a five-year deal.
Following Liverpool's appeal will now go the Court of Appeal, who will decide on whether there are sufficient grounds for the appeal.
The main reason for Judge Tear to throw out New Balance's offer, which was based on a matching rights clause in the contract that was closed between Liverpool and New Balance in 2011, was that Nike offered superior marketing incentives - something that he felt New Balance could not match.
"I have therefore concluded that the New Balance offer on marketing was less favourable to Liverpool FC than the Nike offer because Liverpool FC cannot require New Balance, on the terms of its offer, to use global superstar athletes 'of the calibre of LeBron James, Serena Williams, Drake etc.', he wrote in his judgment.
It will have to be seen whether New Balance's appeal will be granted, but a decision on this is expected in the near future.
Let's hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 CR7 "Gold Scorpion" Boots Released
Nike has officially released the limited-edition Mercurial Superfly 11 "Gold Scorpion" football boots to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's historic achievement. The Portuguese forward recently became the first player in history to score in six consecutive World Cups, prompting Nike to honor his legacy with this special release.
The Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 CR7 "Gold Scorpion" boots feature a striking gold upper accented with bold red details and a large white Swoosh. The design prominently displays "CR7" branding on the heel area, alongside the signature Superfly details. The golden aesthetic pays homage to Ronaldo's remarkable career and his latest World Cup scoring record.
Targeted at collectors and fans, the Nike Mercurial Superfly 11 "Gold Scorpion" is strictly limited to exactly 2,026 pairs worldwide, referencing the year of the tournament. The boots are available on the Nike SNKRS app starting June 24, 2026.
Nike Cristiano Ronaldo 'Gold' Mercurial Superfly RGN Boots Released
Nike has officially released the special edition Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN football boot to celebrate Cristiano Ronaldo's remarkable 20-year career and his legacy on the international stage. The metallic gold and white boots commemorate his unprecedented achievement of scoring in six different World Cup tournaments.
Officially named the Nike Mercurial Superfly RGN SE FG, the boots feature a striking metallic gold base with white accents. Tech-wise, they are based on the latest Mercurial Superfly, incorporating a 3/4-length Air Zoom unit, Flywire support, and a tacky soft upper finish for optimal ball control.
The Cristiano Ronaldo Nike Gold Mercurial Superfly RGN boots are available from today, June 24, 2026, retailing at 300 USD.
Campobasso 26-27 Home, Away & Third Kits Revealed
Italian Serie C side Campobasso FC have officially unveiled their new Nike home, away, and third kits for the 2026-27 season.
They introduce designs based on teamwear but nicely customised by the team.
The home retains the classic stripes, the away comes with a navy vertical stripe, while the third is black and gold.
Good or Bad? Rexona Armpit Sponsorship on 2026 World Cup Referee Shirts
Update - Tuesday, June 23, 2026: Following our publication, Rexona contacted us to provide additional context on the activation.
According to Ben Curtis, Global Brand Vice President for Rexona at Unilever, the sponsorship is intended to highlight fourth officials, who "may not always be the focus of attention but are at the centre of some of football's most intense and anticipated moments," as part of Rexona's "It Won't Let You Down" campaign during the FIFA World Cup 2026. "They need to remain cool and calm under pressure - That's exactly why this partnership is such a natural fit for Rexona."
The 2026 World Cup referee shirts feature one of the most amusing and strategic sponsorship placements seen in football. Deodorant brand Rexona has their logo positioned directly under the armpits of the match officials' jerseys, creating a highly contextual advertising opportunity.
The Rexona logo remains largely hidden during regular play but becomes clearly visible whenever a referee raises their arms to signal a free kick, award a penalty, or issue a card. This placement perfectly matches the deodorant product being advertised, resulting in a memorable piece of marketing on the sport's biggest stage.
While this specific placement has caught the attention of fans during the 2026 tournament, it is not entirely unprecedented. A similar concept was previously executed in Brazil, where Avanço deodorant sponsored the armpits of Corinthians. However, Rexona's execution at a World Cup brings the clever concept to a massive global audience.
Adidas Al Qadsiah 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released - No More Nike
Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah has officially unveiled its new 2026-27 home and away kits, marking the beginning of their new partnership with adidas after switching from previous supplier Nike.
Revealed on June 23, 2026, the inaugural adidas strips feature simple, standard designs without bespoke detailing. The home kit is presented in the club's traditional red and yellow colors, while the away shirt offers a stylish white and red look.
FC Barcelona 26-27 Training Top Leaked
Images of the FC Barcelona 2026-27 training top have been leaked online by Barca kit collector @memorabilia1899.
