FC Barcelona Loses Court Battle Against Nike
Jul 23, 2024, by Chris
- Court Ruling: The Barcelona Supreme Court ruled that FC Barcelona must fulfill their contract with Nike until 2028 and cannot unilaterally withdraw from the agreement.
- Club Grievances: FC Barcelona had attempted to break the contract, citing breaches, abusive clauses, and supply issues with Nike.
- Future Uncertainties: There are ongoing issues between Nike and FC Barcelona, including retailers being unable to order Barcelona products from 2025, raising questions about future collections.
FC Barcelona wanted to leave Nike prematurely a few months ago, whereupon Nike invoked its contract and went to court. The Barcelona Supreme Court has now issued a judgment on the case between Barcelona and Nike, as reported by Marca.
Barcelona Supreme Court: FC Barcelona Must Fulfill Nike Contract Until 2028
The Barcelona Supreme Court confirmed FC Barcelona cannot withdraw from its sponsorship contract with Nike. The court rejected the appeal lodged by the club, stating that they must fulfill the contract signed until 2028.
The court order specifically states that Barcelona is not entitled to unilaterally withdraw from the contract and must preserve and fulfill the advertising sponsorship agreement. The court also prohibits Barcelona from ceasing the execution of its obligations and entering into agreements with third parties that are incompatible with the current contract.
Barcelona cited breaches, abusive clauses, and supply problems
The club had denounced the contract, citing breaches, abusive clauses, and supply problems.
It remains to be seen how this ruling will affect the club's negotiations with Nike to renegotiate the contract, which was reportedly seeking a payment of 120 million euros per season for a ten-year period.
Retailers were not able to order any Barcelona products from 2025
Footy Headlines is aware of further problems between Nike and FC Barcelona. Retailers were not able to order any Barcelona product from 2025, unlike those of other top teams like PSG, Liverpool, and Chelsea. It remains to be seen if Barcelona gets a new collection from Nike for 2025 (we still expect so) and if this collection will be available to buy globally (we have our doubts).
Do you think Barcelona and Nike will stay together until 2028 (or even extend their contract beyond 2028)? Let us know in the comments below.
Grimsby Town 26-27 Third Kit Released
Grimsby Town and technical partner Lotto have officially revealed the club's new 26-27 third kit. Following the previous releases of their home and away strips, the new design draws inspiration from the earliest days of the Mariners playing at Blundell Park, combining a rich brown base with light blue and white accents.
The Grimsby Town 26-27 third jersey is predominantly brown, featuring a broad white chest band bordered by a thin sky blue line. The kit showcases an all-over sublimated diamond pattern across the body, with matching white and sky blue trim along the collar and sleeve cuffs. A monochrome white club crest sits on the chest, while a fisherman illustration is printed on the upper back as a sign-off detail.
Matching brown shorts and socks complete the full uniform for the Mariners. The new Lotto Grimsby Town 26-27 third strip will be available to purchase in-store from Friday, August 7, with online sales opening on Monday, August 10.
US Thionville Lusitanos 26-27 Home & Away Kits Released
French club US Thionville Lusitanos has officially unveiled its new home and away kits for the 26-27 season, made in collaboration with Kappa. The new collection draws direct inspiration from the history, architecture, and soul of the city of Thionville. The reveal shoot took place at the historic Tour aux Puces, emphasizing the deep connection between the club and its local heritage.
The 26-27 home kit features a sky blue base with white trim along the collar and sleeve cuffs, complemented by custom graphic artwork along the lower hem depicting local landmarks and symbols. The away shirt shares the same design blueprint, opting for a clean light grey base paired with white accents and tonal architectural patterns near the bottom. Both shirts feature crewneck collars and host a range of local club sponsors.
The new Kappa US Thionville Lusitanos 26-27 home and away jerseys will be available to purchase starting August 14, 2026.
Oliver Baumann Slams FIFA Over World Cup Jersey Badge
Germany goalkeeper Oliver Baumann has publicly spoken out against FIFA's commercialization, pointing to a controversial practice involving temporary kit badges at the 2026 World Cup. In a recent interview with BILD, the goalkeeper criticized what German media have dubbed "Trikot Gate," shedding light on how players' match jerseys were handled for profit behind the scenes.
According to Baumann, FIFA applied special commemorative patches to player shirts before matches, labeling players with titles like "Legacy" or "Debutant." However, immediately after matches, staff entered the dressing room to peel those badges off the jerseys. Frustrated by the process, Baumann stated that players just wanted to keep their authentic kits intact rather than having them stripped.
Baumann did not play a match in the 2026 World Cup. Those badges are removed from the kits to be later part of trading cards, as part of a deal with Topps. However, it remains to be seen if badges of players who finally did not make a debut will be made into cards, or if it was just removed because of the streamlined process.
The goalkeeper appealed to governing bodies to prioritize the sport itself over endless commercial initiatives. Baumann warned that excessive commercialization, from stripped kit patches to unnecessary breaks, threatens to alienate fans and players who care about the tradition and passion of football.
Mohamed Salah Takes Number 10 Shirt at Trabzonspor
Mohamed Salah has officially completed his move to Turkish side Trabzonspor after leaving Liverpool. Following his arrival, the Egyptian superstar has been assigned the club's number 10 shirt for the 26-27 season. The Turkish club had initially prepared the number 11 jersey, the same squad number Salah wore during his iconic stint at Anfield, but the winger requested number 10 instead to match his shirt number with the Egypt national team.
To accommodate the request, Trabzonspor player Ernest Muçi, who previously held the number 10 jersey, agreed to give up the squad number out of respect for his new teammate. During his arrival flight to Turkey, Salah was seen wearing a presentation kit featuring number 61. The number 61 holds special cultural significance in Trabzon, representing the province's vehicle code and a tradition celebrated by supporters in the 61st minute of matches.
Salah has signed a two-year deal with Trabzonspor, and his official number 10 kit is now available as the club prepares for the upcoming season.