Alphonso Davies Blocks Canadian FA from Selling Kits with his Name

A dispute over image and name rights means Canada Soccer (the Canadian FA) no longer have permission to sell jerseys with star player Alphonso Davies' name on the back, report TSN.

Canada Soccer Can't Sell Alphonso Davies Jerseys

The latest kit controversy involving the Canada national team and football federation stems from the ongoing player disgruntlement with incompetence on the part of Canada Soccer. Davies' agent Nick Huoseh, backed by sports marketing firm Brevettar, informed the federation that they may not use his player's image, or those of any other players, unless they have negotiated permission to do so, which they have not. Huoseh also told Fanatics, the biggest online retailer of licensed Canada products, to stop selling Davies shirts.

Alphonso Davies with his agent, Nick Huoseh.

"National team players have never received royalties from jersey sales, and they should,” Huoseh said in an interview with TSN. “We only want what’s fair and they absolutely can and should do this.” Alphonso Davies' agent, Nick Huoseh.

The bad blood between the players and the federation has been brewing for a while. In August, Househ also declined a proposal from Canada Soccer for Davies to appear in a Gatorade ad, on the grounds that he would only appear in advertising for brands with which Davies has a personal agreement. During World Cup qualifying, senior players were asked to return their Nike training gear so that it could be washed and handed down to youth teams, which the players apparently found unprofessional.

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They were also told in June this year that they would not be given the bonus they had asked for as a reward for qualifying for the World Cup, with Canada Soccer President Nick Bontis blaming a poorly negotiated tv rights and corporate sponsorship contract that wasn't bringing in enough revenue. It then came to light that Canada Soccer spent $11,000 dollars on suits for board members and flew Bontis home business class from a holiday in Greece to attend a medal ceremony where his presence was not strictly required.

Nick Bontis, president of Canada Soccer.

All of this is on top of the disappointment over the lack of new Nike kits and gear for Canada's first World Cup since 1986, and the shortage of replica kits and gear available to fans, which some blame on a lack of foresight and aspiration from Canada Soccer when agreeing to the deal with Nike.

Canadian players who have Adidas contracts such as Samuel Piette and Doneil Henry appeared in promotional campaigns for Adidas' Canada collection which was launched last week, something we don't see too often with unofficial national team products of this nature, another sign of the fractured relations between the players and Canada Soccer.

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What do you think of this story? Dou you agree that players should receive royalties for national team shirt sales? Do you think Davies is right to refuse to participate in these promotional activities? Comment below.