By Mark Baber
October 13 – A Manchester United proposal to discuss the introduction of sponsorship on the back of replica shirts has been rejected by all the other Premier League clubs, according to reports.
Under current Premier League rules sponsorship is not allowed on the back of jerseys, although it is permitted in the FA Cup and League Cups.
The news of United’s proposal has come to light not long after the Manchester signed up its 40th sponsor and was revealed as receiving more sponsorship than any other club worldwide.
The consensus amongst other Premier League clubs was that the addition of a back shirt sponsor would dilute the impact of the club’s main shirt sponsor. Manchester United’s seven-year shirt sponsorship deal with Chevrolet, worth £357 million, took effect from the start of this season.
The club also recently announced a ten-year kit deal with adidas worth £750 million. The club also has an official noodle partner (Nissin), a paint sponsor (Kansai Paint) and an official moving partner (Yanmar). Manchester United was also the first club to have a separate sponsorship deal for its training kit.
Other Premier League clubs were also concerned about football going down the road of Formula One, with uniforms covered in sponsorship logos.
This concern was echoed on Manchester United fan forums, where some fans said they would be happy if the scheme brought in more money for players such as Di Maria, whilst others compared the idea to the item of clothing on which Nicklas Bendtner displayed the logo of a bookmaker, earning an £80,000 fine.
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