Reds Kit Deal Verdict to Be Handed Down on Friday

Photo by Stuart Franklin - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Liverpool will find out who will have the privilege of producing their apparel tomorrow.

On Monday, it was reported that the court case for the honour of producing Liverpool kits in the near future had begun in earnest, and that the two interested parties — seven-year partner New Balance and sportswear behemoth Nike — would present their arguments.

The argument in question relates to New Balance’s right to match any offer from a competitor when their deal runs out in May of next year, and their claim that the Boston-based company would be able to effectively deliver a distribution model that can compare to that of Nike.

While anybody who has attempted to purchase a Liverpool kit outside the Anfield superstore in the past few years can attest to this claim being highly debatable, Nike have further contested that their access to “non-football global superstar athletes and influencers”, citing names such as LeBron james, Serena Williams and Drake, provide marketing power that far surpasses that of New Balance’s less illustrious clientele.

Given that the proposed contract between Nike and the Reds offers less guaranteed money, but a higher percentage of kit sale revenue, it appears that the marketing and distribution aspects will be critical to the final verdict.

Now, it appears the presiding judge, Justice Nigel Teare has been satisfied and is ready to hand down his verdict. The date has been set to tomorrow Friday, and the ruling will be read some time after 10:30am BST.

Source: liverpooloffside.sbnation.com