Liverpool FC: New Balance's appeal rejected, Nike to be equipment supplier (2020-2025, £30m/year)

The High Court of Justice of England and Wales has rejected New Balance's appeal in its case against Liverpool FC (Premier League) on 04/11/2019. The American brand New Balance, equipment supplier of the English club since 2015 under an agreement running until the end of 2019-20, claimed that it could extend its contract beyond the current season under a clause in the contract allowing the brand to extend if it could match the claims of a competing brand, in this case Nike.

"The New Balance offer on marketing was less favourable to Liverpool FC than the Nike offer. Liverpool FC is not obliged to enter into a new agreement with New Balance," ruled High Court Judge Nigel Teare on 25/10/2019, a decision against which New Balance launched an unsuccessful appeal.

Currently, New Balance pays £45m (€50.3m) to Liverpool FC annually, while Nike's offer is £30m (€34.7m) per season until 2025, plus a 20% royalty on the club's net revenue from the sale of its products, according to British media.

To justify his decision, Mr Justice Teare said that New Balance could not compete with Nike's…