Manchester United Sues Sega For Use Of Man Utd Club Name In Football Manager
May 23, 2020, by Chris
Football Manager series creator Sega Publishing and Sports Interactive (SI Games) has been used by Manchester United for the use of the club name in Football Manager 2020. Story via IGN and The Guardian.
Manchester United Sues Football Manager Creators Sega Publishing and Sports Interactive (SI Games)
Manchester United are suing Football Manager for allegedly infringing its trademark by using the club’s name in the game. Manchester United also alleged that SI Games infringed on their trademark by not using the actual Manchester United logo, and instead using a simpler default red and white logo.
Manchester United said that this “deprives the registered proprietor of its right to have the club crest licensed.”
Sega and SI Games have rebutted by saying that the use of Manchester United’s name is “a legitimate reference to the Manchester United football team in a football context” and added that the club name has been used in the video game franchise since 1992, when it was known as Championship Manager, according to the Guardian.
Both sides of the lawsuit exchanged statements asserting their own control over or freedom to use the club name.
Manchester United lawyer Simon Malynicz QC stated that the club’s name is one of the most valuable brands in the world, adding that the money received from licensing is “very significant,” and that Sega’s use of the Manchester United name benefits their own properties.
“Consumers expect to see the club crest next to the name Manchester United,” Malynicz said, “and this failure to do so amounts to wrongful use.”
Malynicz asked Mr. Justice Morgan, the judge overseeing the lawsuit proceedings, to allow Manchester United to amend the claim against Sega and SI Games to include the use of patches and mods, arguing that the use of such modifications allows players to incorporate the Manchester United logo into their game without proper licensing.
“The claimant has acquiesced in the use by the defendants of the name of the Manchester United football team in the Football Manager game and cannot now complain of such use,” Sega and SI Games said in a written defence.
Sega and SI Games also added that efforts to prevent the companies from using the Manchester United name “would amount to an unreasonable restraint on the right to freedom of expression to restrain the use of the words ‘Manchester United’ to refer to a team in a computer game.”
“Copies of the game have also been sent by SI to a number of officials and players at the [club] for a number of years and there have been a number of positive press comments and tweets about the game by them,” Wyand stated, adding “further, the claimant’s staff working in the data analytics and scouting teams have contacted SI on various occasions asking for access to the Football Manager database for scouting and research purposes.”
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Special Rayados 'Legado 86' Commemorative Kit Released
Mexican side CF Monterrey and Puma have officially unveiled a special commemorative jersey, titled the Jersey Legado 86. Celebrating the 40th anniversary of Monterrey's first-ever Liga MX league championship won in the Mexico 1986 tournament, the commemorative shirt made its on-pitch debut during their 26-27 Liga MX match against Cruz Azul.
The shirt's defining characteristic is the substitution of the modern club crest with the classic 1986 retro emblem, which showcases the historic mountain silhouette, vintage football, and classic club lettering. Puma positioned their red cat logo and the retro crest to replicate the arrangement seen on the original 1986 jersey, while modern club partners such as BBVA and Codere are incorporated across the traditional navy and white stripes.
Several bespoke detailing elements complete the design, including a star graphic with the number 86 printed inside the collar and the current Rayados crest positioned on the nape of the neck. Released in a limited run of 1,986 pieces, the collector's item pays homage to one of the most celebrated moments in the club's history.
FC Kaiserslautern 26-27 Special Kit Released
Bundesliga 2 side 1. FC Kaiserslautern have officially unveiled their special 2026-27 'Herz der Pfalz' (Heart of the Palatinate) kit. Made by Castore, the shirt debuted against Eintracht Braunschweig and celebrates the region's wine culture and late-summer wine festivals.
The special shirt features a light beige base with a darker stylized grapevine pattern, while Bordeaux-red details appear on the collar, cuffs and monochrome Castore and FCK logos. The 'Herz der Pfalz' wording is placed on the upper back, with additional lettering inside the collar.
What do you think of the new 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2026-27 special kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
Various Argentine Clubs To Switch Kit Supplier
Following latest reports from Argentine kit expert Marca de Gol, various Argentine clubs are expected to change kit supplier for the upcoming 2027 season.
Notably, four top flight sides could already be on their way to partner with local brand Atomik: Vélez Sársfield, Atlético Talleres, Gimnasia La Plata and Atlético Tucumán. On the other hand, Italian brand Givova are seemingly losing two teams - Gimnasia as mentioned above and Atlético Unión to Fiume Sports.
Which of these supplier change do you look forward the most? Let us know in the comments.
Puma Kit Durability Questioned Again as Julian Ryerson Suffers Ripped Shorts
Borussia Dortmund full-back Julian Ryerson suffered an unusual kit malfunction during BVB's 1-0 Bundesliga victory against VfB Stuttgart. Midway through the second half, the Norwegian international engaged in a physical duel with Stuttgart winger Jamie Leweling. As Leweling fell to the turf, he grabbed hold of Ryerson's shorts, completely tearing the outer seam apart and leaving the fabric hanging loose.
Ryerson initially attempted to carry on playing by knotting the shredded material at his hip. After repeatedly signaling toward the bench that the damaged kit could not hold up, he eventually made his way to the sideline. Second-choice goalkeeper Alexander Meyer rushed over to hand him a fresh pair, resulting in a brief moment where Ryerson was left in his base-layer yellow undershorts before donning the replacement gear and re-entering the pitch.
The incident has brought Puma's kit durability back under scrutiny. The German brand constructs its authentic elite kits using lightweight Ultraweave performance fabric, prioritizing minimal weight and high breathability. However, the delicate material has repeatedly faced criticism among supporters after tearing in high-intensity tussles, with Ryerson's mishap marking another visible tear on the Bundesliga stage this 26-27 season.
Monterrey Debuts Special Coca-Cola 100th Anniversary Kit Font
CF Monterrey sported a special commemorative nameset on their 26-27 Puma home kit during their Liga MX match against Cruz Azul at Estadio BBVA. The bespoke squad numbers and lettering were created in collaboration with longtime club partner Coca-Cola to celebrate the company's 100th anniversary in Mexico (1926-2026).
The font features an eye-catching textured look inspired by traditional Mexican artisan beadwork. Rendered in a bold red base adorned with intricate white, green, and red jewel-like accents reflecting the national flag, each number also integrates a subtle Rayados crest at the base. Positioned neatly above the numbers is the official red Coca-Cola 100 México anniversary script and lockup.
Alongside its on-pitch appearance with the first team, the commemorative nameset was released as an exclusive collector's edition. Only 100 supporters were given the opportunity to customize their 26-27 home shirt with the special font directly at the official Estadio BBVA club store.
Match-Worn Harry Kane Bayern Munich Kit Cut Up for Rare Topps Cards
Trading card manufacturer Topps has revealed a set of four ultra-rare trading cards created by cutting up a match-worn Harry Kane Bayern Munich jersey. Released as part of the 2025-26 Topps Museum Collection UEFA Club Competitions series, the cards take the striker's match-worn nameplate and divide it into four individual one-of-one collectibles.
Each card in the Museum Nameplate Relics subset houses a single letter from Kane's surname: "K", "A", "N", and "E". Embedded in a dedicated display window alongside a photo of Kane in Bayern colors, the fabric swatches highlight the cream-colored knit and deep red lettering from a Bayern kit, marked with official "Match-Worn Memorabilia" certification and UEFA Champions League branding.
While relic cards featuring match-worn gear have been popular in the hobby for years, deconstructing entire match-worn shirts to create cards regularly divides opinions among kit collectors who would rather see historic shirts preserved intact.
For high-end card enthusiasts, however, piecing together all four separate 1/1 cards to rebuild the complete nameplate is set to be one of the rarest pursuits in the collection.