Rangers have removed Hummel as the club’s official retail partner from the official Rangers website as a court ruling over merchandising begins to take effect.
Sports Direct is now listed as the club’s “official retail partner” after a judge placed a ban on Hummel kits from next season.
And despite this not taking full effect until next year, Rangers are clearly taking no chances by removing the partner from the club’s official webpages.
The court ruling states, as quoted by the Scotsman:
“Rangers shall not perform the Elite/Hummel Agreement.
“Rangers shall not assist Elite or Hummel to perform the Elite/Hummel Agreement.
“And Rangers shall inform Elite and Hummel that it will not perform the Elite/Hummel Agreement.”
On top of this, the club are prohibited “to wear any Official Rangers Technical Products designed by, supplied by, gifted by or manufactured by Elite or Hummel, or bearing the Hummel brand.”
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The ruling has heightened anxiety amongst the Rangers support as the club’s Board battle tirelessly to rid Ibrox of Ashley’s “toxic influence” [Club 1872].
As part of this, there was always going to be court battles and Rangers have lost in a ruling which saw them sign a new deal with Hummel/Elite Group as opposed to giving Sports Direct first option.
It has meant that for next season Rangers won’t be able to bear the Hummel brand, whilst the club must also pay £440k in costs to Ashley’s legal team with a damages bill to come.
Contrary to some reports, Rangers have outright denied that the £1m damages cap has been removed from the original contract [Rangers.co.uk].
Whatever happens from here, it’s some very messy business. And it certainly cranks up the pressure on the pitch.
