The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has fined JD Sports, Elite Sports and Rangers FC of over £ 2 million after they were found guilty of price fixing on official merchandise.
As per the probe, JD Sports was found to break competition law by fixing the retail prices of a number of Rangers-branded replica kits and other clothing products between September 2018 and July 2019.
While Elite Sports and Rangers FC have been fined £ 459,000 and £ 225,000, respectively, JD Sports has been fined £ 1,485,000.
The penalties include a settlement discount, reflecting resource savings to the CMA as a result of all three parties admitting to acting illegally and helping bring a swifter resolution to the CMA’s investigation.
Notably, in accordance with the CMA’s standard terms of settlement, JD Sports will not be appealing against the penalty.
More on the same, CMA Executive Director of Enforcement Michael Grenfell, said “Today’s decision sends a clear message to football clubs and other businesses that illegal anti-competitive collusion will not be tolerated.”
