Man Utd kit price-fixing to be examined here

The Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) is to ask the Competition Authority to examine allegations of price fixing of replica…

The Consumers' Association of Ireland (CAI) is to ask the Competition Authority to examine allegations of price fixing of replica Manchester United football kits in the Republic.

The club has been accused of "cynically exploiting" fans in Britain after being fined over £1.6 million sterling by the country's Office of Fair Trading (OFT).

United were among 10 companies - which also included the British Football Association - to be punished for fixing the price of replica shirts.

In a statement issued to the Stock Exchange, United denied any wrongdoing, however, and said they are considering an appeal.

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CAI Chief Executive Mr Dermott Jewell said because the club is appealing the UK fine, investigations here would be held up.

"We will be writing to the Competition Authority next week asking them to liaise with British authorities to keep on top of what is happening there," he said. "It is likely retailers have suffered also because they have purchased at a fixed price".

Additional reporting PA

Patrick  Logue

Patrick Logue

Patrick Logue is Digital Editor of The Irish Times