Anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the sale of Leicester City FC-branded products and merchandise
The CMA has issued an infringement decision after investigating suspected anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the sale of Leicester City FC-branded products and merchandise in the United Kingdom.
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 9 January 2024 | Publication of non-confidential version of the infringement decision |
| 31 July 2023 | Infringement decision issued to case parties |
| 5 July 2023 | Statement of objections issued and settlement announced |
| December 2022 to June 2023 | Investigation ongoing |
| October 2022 to November 2022 | Investigation ongoing |
| June 2022 to September 2022 | Investigation ongoing |
| April 2022 to May 2022 | Investigation ongoing |
| September 2021 to March 2022 | Initial investigation, including information gathering, analysis and review of material. CMA analysis and review of information gathered. |
| September 2021 | Investigation opened |
Non-confidential decision
9 January 2024: The CMA has published a non-confidential version of the infringement decision in this case.
- (9.1.24)
Infringement decision
On 31 July 2023, the CMA issued a decision finding that JD Sports Fashion Plc and Leicester City Football Club Limited broke competition law by colluding to restrict competition in the sales of Leicester City-branded clothing, including replica kit, in the UK.
The decision is addressed to JD Sports Fashion Plc, Leicester City Football Club Limited and Leicester City Football Club Limited’s parent companies, King Power International Co. Limited and V & A Holding Co. Limited.
A fine of £880,000 has been imposed on Leicester City Football Club Limited, King Power International Co. Limited and V & A Holding Co. Limited. The penalty includes a discount to reflect the fact that these parties have settled the case with the CMA (described further below).
JD Sports reported the conduct to the CMA and benefits from immunity to any fine under the CMA’s Leniency programme.
Statement of objections
On 5 July 2023, the CMA issued a statement of objections setting out its provisional findings that JD Sports Fashion Plc and Leicester City Football Club Limited broke competition law by colluding to restrict competition in the sales of Leicester City-branded clothing, including replica kit, in the UK.
The allegations concern JD Sports Fashion Plc and Leicester City Football Club Limited. The statement is also addressed to Leicester City Football Club Limited’s parent companies, King Power International Co. Limited and V & A Holding Co. Limited.
Settlement
Leicester City Football Club Limited have admitted participating in the alleged infringement in relation to the supply of Leicester City-branded products in the UK. Leicester City Football Club Limited (and its parent companies, King Power International Co. Limited and V & A Holding Co. Limited) have agreed to pay a fine including a discount to reflect the resource savings to the CMA generated by the company’s admission and its agreement to a streamlined administrative procedure.
JD Sports also reported the alleged infringement under the CMA’s leniency policy and will benefit from immunity to any fine, provided it continues to cooperate and complies with the other conditions of the CMA’s leniency policy.
Case information
On 23 September 2021, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) launched an investigation under section 25 of the Competition Act 1998 (‘CA98’) into suspected breaches of competition law by Leicester City Football Club Limited and JD Sports Fashion Plc, together with their affiliates. The investigation concerns suspected infringements of Chapter I of the CA98 in relation to the sale of Leicester City-branded products and merchandise in the United Kingdom.
Personal data
The CMA may collect, use and share personal data for its investigations, including investigations under the Competition Act 1998. This includes processing personal data for the purposes of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018.
For more information about how the CMA handles personal information, please see the CMA’s Personal Information Charter page.
Contacts
For any enquiries relating to this case, please contact: [email protected]
Updates to this page
Published 30 September 2021Last updated 9 January 2024 + show all updates
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Non-confidential decision published
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Decision issued to parties
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Statement of objection issued, and settlement announced
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Case timetable updated
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Case timetable updated.
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Case timetable updated.
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Case timetable updated.
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Case timetable updated.
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First published.