Barcelona receive unfavourable ruling from court over past Nike deal termination appeal

Earlier in the year, Barcelona president Joan Laporta went on all out against Nike, publicly revealing ‘breaches in contract’ and even vowing to terminate the contract which does not expire until 2028.

Citing unfair commercial margins, supply problems, and a deal wildly out of touch with the current market, Laporta even hinted at a switch to competitor Puma or even creating their own brand.

Legal setback for Barcelona

However, a recent ruling by the Barcelona Court of Appeal has formally thrown a wrench into those plans, reports Mundo Deportivo.

The court upheld a series of precautionary measures put in place by a Barcelona commercial court in April, effectively forcing Barcelona to comply with the terms of the current contract until 2028.

This includes maintaining the sponsorship agreement, collaborating with Nike to fulfil their obligations, and refraining from signing any deals with third-party sponsors that might conflict with the Nike contract.

What about the new deal?

The court ruling merely bars Barcelona from terminating the agreement with Nike or finding a new agreement with a third-party company until the Nike deal ends.

Barcelona, in recent months, have maintained that Laporta’s outburst was a means to pressure Nike into signing an improved deal.

While the court battle continues, with a full trial scheduled for October, both Barcelona and Nike seem open to renegotiating a new deal beyond 2028.

Barcelona are confident they can secure a much more favourable agreement, one that reflects the current market value of such sponsorships.

Barcelona are in a precarious financial situation, and a lucrative sponsorship deal could be a major boost.

While the Nike contract might have been generous back in 1999, the landscape has changed dramatically. Barcelona believes they deserve a cut that reflects their global standing and brand recognition.