1860 München Forced To Use Historic FA Crest After Losing Rights To Lion Badge
- Loss of Lion Badge Rights: TSV 1860 Munich has been forced to temporarily abandon their iconic lion badge due to an ongoing dispute with majority shareholder Hasan Ismaik, who now owns the rights.
- Adoption of Historic FA Crest: The club will use its historic "FA" crest, first documented in 1919, as a temporary replacement during this transitional period until the legal conditions allow for the lion's return.
- Impact of Shareholder Dispute: The dispute with Hasan Ismaik not only prevents the team from wearing kits with the lion crest, despite them being available for sale, but also signifies the loss of a symbol that has been central to the club's identity for over a century.
Update - Thursday, July 23, 2026: The official crest registered by 1860 München for the 26-27 season is not monochromatic but deep green, sky blue, and white with a golden border. We have updated our infographic.
TSV 1860 Munich will use their historic "FA" crest as a temporary replacement after losing the rights to their iconic lion badge in the ongoing dispute with majority shareholder Hasan Ismaik.
1860 München- New Crest
The club's new Spielbetriebs-GmbH has confirmed that the FA crest, first documented back in 1919, will be used during the transitional period until the legal conditions are in place for the lion to return as the official 1860 Munich badge. The oval-shaped FA crest features the letters "F" and "A" alongside the year "1860" in a classic, understated design that is a far cry from the lion that has represented the club for over a century.
Because of the dispute, 1860 Munich's new football department signed a deal with the local brand Societas. This leads to the strange situation that the team's intended Joma 26-27 kits with the lion crest are available for sale but won't be worn by the footballers. The rights are owned by the fans' hated investor, Hasan Ismaik.
According to club historian Claus Melchior, the lion was already the dominant crest of the 1860 Munich footballers before the First World War, making the current situation all the more painful for supporters - the club has been robbed of a symbol that has been part of its identity for well over a hundred years. The club stressed that the FA crest is a genuine part of their football department's history and is therefore being used as a legitimate transitional solution rather than an invented alternative, with the lion set to return as soon as the legal dispute with Ismaik's company is resolved.
What do you think of 1860 Münchn's new, likely temporary crest? How long do you think 1860 Munich will have to use the FA crest before the lion returns? Let us know in the comments below.