Inquiry urged into soccer kit prices

The Consumer Association of Ireland has called on the Competition Authority to liaise with British authorities after 10 British…

The Consumer Association of Ireland has called on the Competition Authority to liaise with British authorities after 10 British businesses were fined almost £19 million (€26.6 million) for anti-competitive practice.

The British Office of Fair Trading fined the firms, including Manchester United and the Football Association of England, in relation to prices of replica football shirts.

England's largest sportswear retailer, JJB Sports, was fined £8.3 million (€14 million), one of the largest fines imposed by the OFT. JJB has denied any involvement in price-fixing.

Mr Dermot Jewell, a spokesman for the CAI, has called for an investigation to examine pricing of replica football kits here.

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"The Competition Authority should liaise with the British authorities to fully understand what has taken place," he said.

Mr Jewell said if it was proved there was an element of price-fixing in Britain and the goods in question were brought to Ireland then "it's bound to have a ripple effect".

The OFT chairman, Mr John Vickers, said: "The fines imposed reflect the seriousness of the price-fixing in this case.

"Since we launched our investigation the prices of replica footballs shirts have fallen and consumers can now shop around and get a better price."

The Competition Authority here has the power to investigate an alleged cartel on foot of a complaint or on its own initiative, although prosecution is ordered by the courts.

The maximum jail sentence for anti-competitive practice under the Competition Act, 2002, is five years.

Persons found guilty may also be fined up to €4 million or 10 per cent of turnover, whichever is greater.

A spokesman for the Competition Authority said the organisation was in continuous contact with British authorities.

He added that while the authority was not in a position to levy fines, it would welcome broader legislation.