LAST UPDATE | 24 Oct 2022
THE KIT SUPPLIER to the FAI is taking legal advice after the Association cut ties with the company four years before the end of a deal that was due to run until 2026.
Abbottstown chiefs released a statement earlier today confirming that its agreement with JACC Sports Distributors Limited had been terminated “in accordance with the terms of the agreement”, despite an extension being agreed in 2019 for a further seven years.
JACC has supplied Ireland’s gear since 1994, with Umbro until 2017, when New Balance took over until 2020, before Umbro once again became the logo on the shirt.
JACC said in a statement: “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 24 October 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 statement added that the company “are taking legal advice” and “will not be making any further comment at this time”.
The FAI said earlier: “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,” a statement read.
“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.”
It means the Ireland side heading to next summer’s Women’s World Cup will have a new kit supplier, along with Stephen Kenny’s men’s team when they begin their Euro 2024 qualifying campaign in March.
