TV fault called: why Andy Murray’s logo was a no-go
When a sportswear company pays you £4m to wear their logo, it only seems reasonable to oblige.
But Scots tennis star Andy Murray has come under fire
for displaying a rival
manufacturer's apparel
in front of a TV audience
of millions.
Last night marketing gurus described his choice of attire -
a Lacoste hooded top - as
he watched his brother
Jamie's mixed doubles
championship win on Sunday as "unprofessional" and
"disloyal" after he signed an exclusive multi-million pound sponsorship deal with Fred Perry last year. Murray, who missed this year's Wimbledon tournament because of a wrist injury, was seen by a huge TV audience and pictured in the newspapers cheering on his brother and doubles partner Jelena Jankovic.
The Perry laurel garland logo only got a look-in when Murray took off his top towards the end of the coverage, but the Lacoste logo also featured on Murray's website earlier in the week, fuelling accusations of betrayal.
Nigel Currie of London-based Brand Rapport said: "Andy Murray's exclusive deal with Fred Perry is one of the biggest endorsements in British sport and they are entitled to feel let down by this mistake," he said. "I suspect it was
probably borne out of naivete, but the rules are pretty clear and a high-class professional
sportsman would be expected to be dressed in the correct apparel in all appropriate
situations."
Mr Currie, who is chairman of the European Sponsorship Association, added: "Lacoste must be chuckling to
themselves at the free publicity and the obvious discomfort
of one of their main rivals
in the tennis and fashion
sportswear sector."
Richard Martin, marketing director of Fred Perry claimed the issue was a "mountain out of a molehill". But he added: "How the matter will be dealt with will be down to someone else in the company."
Rather more ominously Hamish Pringle, director
general of the Institute of
Practitioners and author of
the book Celebrity Sells, said: "The case of a celebrity being disloyal to the brand is a pretty straightforward one to deal with, assuming the contract is correctly drawn up."
Murray's manager, Patricio Apey of Ace Group, did not return calls yesterday but said recently: "Andy certainly has a rebel streak, but he also has a head on his shoulders."
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Posted by: Ralph, Bogotá, Colombia on 4:29am Thu 12 Jul 07
Good grief.
The [bold]BOY[/bold] , and I stress this word, wore the wrong jumper one day - get a grip.
Honestly.
Good grief.
The
BOY , and I stress this word, wore the wrong jumper one day - get a grip.
Honestly.
Posted by: Archie, Scotland on 6:01am Thu 12 Jul 07
Waken up Ralph, he's getting paid 4 million pounds to wear the right one!!
Waken up Ralph, he's getting paid 4 million pounds to wear the right one!!
Posted by: BigT, Glasgow on 7:36am Thu 12 Jul 07
Mate of mine worked at coca cola in EK and got a fine for having a bottle of Irn Bru on the passenger seat of his Coke van! You would think Fred Perry would have supplied him with as many hoodies as he needed? Why would he buy a Lacoste one?
Mate of mine worked at coca cola in EK and got a fine for having a bottle of Irn Bru on the passenger seat of his Coke van! You would think Fred Perry would have supplied him with as many hoodies as he needed? Why would he buy a Lacoste one?
Posted by: David, moo moo land on 8:20am Thu 12 Jul 07
why would he wear Lacoste? cos it a cool treandy brand, whereas Fred Perry,, over 50s at the local tennis club mabee would wear it, its usually available at all good local charity shops and sales of work..
why would he wear Lacoste? cos it a cool treandy brand, whereas Fred Perry,, over 50s at the local tennis club mabee would wear it, its usually available at all good local charity shops and sales of work..
Posted by: Andy, Glasgow on 8:34am Thu 12 Jul 07
I guess Lacoste will be happy to be associated with anything positive and Scottish, rather than the thousands of neds strutting about in scabby white velcro Lacoste trainers and shell suits.
Anyone seen this story elsewhere? Seems to be a filler between 4 dull golf headlines on a slow sports day.
I guess Lacoste will be happy to be associated with anything positive and Scottish, rather than the thousands of neds strutting about in scabby white velcro Lacoste trainers and shell suits.
Anyone seen this story elsewhere? Seems to be a filler between 4 dull golf headlines on a slow sports day.
Posted by: Dan, glasgow on 10:29am Thu 12 Jul 07
Hoodie must be a ned in there eh? Naw only if he was wearing Cappa.
Jayesus is this news...what am I doing taking this bait!
Hoodie must be a ned in there eh? Naw only if he was wearing Cappa.
Jayesus is this news...what am I doing taking this bait!
Posted by: Frida Mair, Elrick on 11:08am Thu 12 Jul 07
After reading such a lame, limp and concocted story, I had to check I wasn't on the Daily Star website.
After reading such a lame, limp and concocted story, I had to check I wasn't on the Daily Star website.
Posted by: Martin, Glasgow on 11:28am Thu 12 Jul 07
Fred Perry - which was the label of choice for Britain's best dressed mods and mod revivalists - will always be cooler than Lacoste.
Fred Perry - which was the label of choice for Britain's best dressed mods and mod revivalists - will always be cooler than Lacoste.
Posted by: nyscot, new york on 3:16pm Thu 12 Jul 07
Yeah, this is drivel. Why isn't there a headline story about the Tour de France? But what are the chances of anyone at the herald reading these emails?
Yeah, this is drivel. Why isn't there a headline story about the Tour de France? But what are the chances of anyone at the herald reading these emails?
Posted by: Sheena Stapleton, Connecticut, USA (originally Ayr, Scotland) on 7:13pm Thu 12 Jul 07
He may be a BOY(Ralph from Bogata), but if I was MAN enough to earn 4million quid for wearing Fred Perry, I think I'd pay arrention to the fine print of my contract.
Bad show Andy, rather gives the impression that the 4million has gone to your head(or hoodie).
!
He may be a BOY(Ralph from Bogata), but if I was MAN enough to earn 4million quid for wearing Fred Perry, I think I'd pay arrention to the fine print of my contract.
Bad show Andy, rather gives the impression that the 4million has gone to your head(or hoodie).
!
Posted by: Oscar on 11:28am Fri 13 Jul 07
Right up there with Beckham's brylcreem farrago when he shaved his bonce.
Right up there with Beckham's brylcreem farrago when he shaved his bonce.