THE sports goods empire founded by former Blackburn Rovers star David Whelan has been fined £8.4million for fixing the price of replica football kits.
JJB Sports, which has outlets throughout East Lancashire, received the biggest fine of ten companies investigated by the Office of Fair Trading. Kit manufacturer Umbro has been hit with a £6.6million fine, Manchester United must pay £1.6million and the Football Association £158,000.
JJB Sports attacked the OFT fine as "politically motivated" and said it would appeal, denying any allegations of price fixing. In a statement, it said: "JJB has fully co-operated with the OFT at all times and continues to maintain that it is not guilty of price fixing, but has been the principal retailer in driving down the prices of replica kits. JJB is of the opinion the investigation was politically motivated and is confident it will get a fair and unbiased hearing before the Competition Appeal Tribunal." OFT chairman John Vickers said: "The fines reflect the seriousness of the price fixing."
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