Opinion | Liverpool fans plan trademark protest against Newcastle United as FSG look to own city’s name
- American owners of the European champions have listened to supporters over ticket prices and other issues
- Fenway Sports Group plan opposed by city’s mayor over potential effect on local traders so integral to fan culture
Liverpool fans are mobilising again. This time it is not in pursuit of glory or organising a massive trek to watch the men in red. They are protesting against the club, a situation the Kop had hoped was consigned to the past.
The Spirit of Shankly Supporters Union (SOS) has called for a show of strength during Saturday’s English Premier League fixture against Newcastle United. A decade ago demonstrations were a regular occurrence. During the ownership of George Gillett and Tom Hicks, supporters were vocal in their opposition to the regime. The late 2000s were grim times on Merseyside.
The mood should be very different now. The Uefa Champions League final victory over Tottenham Hotspur in June heralded a summer of satisfaction. Optimism abounds that Jurgen Klopp can bring the title back to Anfield for the first time since 1990. Fenway Sports Group (FSG) have proved competent owners with no interest in draining the club of money. The owners have backed the manager and morale in the squad is positive.
The problem is that the club want to trademark the word “Liverpool”. The application is narrow. It will only be applied to the use of the word in a football context. Because of this, it is likely to be approved. The club want to crack down on counterfeiting operations that replicate official merchandise.
Even so, the initiative has caused anger across the region. The worry locally is about the knock-on effect. There are a number of football clubs with “Liverpool” in their name and they are concerned about how the trademark might affect them.