THE COMPANY that distributes jerseys for the Republic of Ireland football team is seeking legal advice after the FAI (Football Association of Ireland) ended terminated its sponsorship deal yesterday.
JACC Sports Distributors Limited has supplied both Umbro and New Balance gear since 1994, A new deal was signed in 2019 and was due to run until 2026.
The FAI released a statement to the press yesterday saying that its partnership was over
"The Football Association of Ireland can confirm that it has today terminated its sponsorship agreement with JACC Sports Distributors Limited, in accordance with the terms of the agreement," said the statement.
"The FAI would like to thank JACC Sports for all its support to the Association over the years and wishes it all the best in the future. "
"The Association respects the confidentiality of the parties and will not be making any further comment on this matter."
JACC Sports seek legal advice following FAI decision to end sponsorship deal https://t.co/AwqGVPlujC
— The Irish Times (@IrishTimes) October 24, 2022
The distribution agency have responded to an email from FAI chairperson Roy Barrett sent at 9.02am on Monday. They now are claiming that they are seeking legal advice after the termination.
"This morning at 9.02am JACC Sports received a letter via email from Roy Barrett, chairman of the Football Association of Ireland, informing us of their intention to terminate the contract between the Association and JACC Sports."
"At 11.46am we replied stating the following to Mr. Roy Barrett: "We refer to your letter of 24th October 2022 with reference to a supposed termination of the Sponsorship Agreement between the Association and JACC dated 8 January 2020 (the Sponsorship Agreement) and the Variation Agreement to the Sponsorship Agreement dated 3 August 2021 (the Variation Agreement). We reject fully any purported effort by the Association to terminate the Agreement, which termination is rejected".
"We find it highly irregular and unwarranted in terms of any working, that the Association's longest standing, most loyal sponsor, and the sponsor which has contributed more financially than any other sponsor to the Association would be treated this way.
The fact that Roy Barrett and the FAI have chosen to go public with something that we have rejected seems agenda fuelled at best and malicious at worst."
"We are taking legal advice and will not be making any further comment at this time."
JACC, a business based in west Dublin, has also represented brands such as Nike, New Balance, Under Armour and Converse.
