footballers challenge the misuse of their image in Panini albums

The famous Italian sticker brand is on trial from Wednesday before the Paris judicial court. The role of the football players’ union, the UNFP, is also questioned in this affair.

A question of image(s). Footballers are contesting the abusive use of their image on the famous Panini albums. The case dates back to 2022, when around fifteen pro players led a revolt against the famous Italian brand that publishes football player stickers, including former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jérôme Rothen. After the statute of limitations hearing, four of them were finally heard by the Paris judicial court on Wednesday March 13. All contest the abusive use of their image in Panini albums. Jérémy Doku, Bruno Ecuele-Manga, Vincent Bessat, and Jérémy Pied criticize Panini for not having a document proving their consent.

Also in the crosshairs is the players’ unionNational Union of Professional Footballersand its commercial company, Promofoot, which dealt with the Italian publisher. “We have no written document concerning the Panini company and the plaintiffs which would authorize this company to exploit the image of the plaintiffs. And it is exactly the same thing with the union, we do not have the slightest authorization”denounces their lawyer Elie Dottelonde, guest of franceinfo.

The UNFP in the sights

Players receive compensation of around 200 euros per year for the use of their image. Not enough to encourage these four players to stop the procedure: “Through this sale, the union generates millions. By exploiting the image of footballers, Panini generates tens of millions… and the player zero euros”, believes Me Dottelonde.

The UNFP considers that it is within its rights, whereas in 1997, the agreement with Panini had been secured, by introducing into the “Professional Footballer’s Charter” an article providing “the edition, reproduction or use of the individual and collective image of professional players playing in France”. “A collective agreement is supposed to govern relations between employees and employer, and in no case confer an absolute, unlimited right and without the slightest compensation for a union to exploit the image of footballers” retorts the lawyer.

In this case, the players also complain about the opacity of the use of the money collected by the UNFP via its commercial company. The union specified that the money collected “finances actions aimed at football players”even those who are not members.

The use of the image of the players in question

The hearing which is being held on Wednesday in Paris will be the first to rule on the merits of the thorny question of the conventions which govern the use of players’ images. Me Elie Dottelonde judges that the case resembles in every way the standoff which opposed Kylian Mbappé and the French Football Federation (FFF) before the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. “It’s exactly the same situation. These are conventions that now date back a very long time.”. LThe Paris Saint-Germain striker was in conflict with the (FFF) over the management of his image rights, refusing to participate in photo shoots with sponsors of the France team.

“It’s true that at the time the image of the players was perhaps not worth as much, so perhaps the players at the time were less interested in their image. It turns out that these conventions , in my opinion, are illegal. And so it is high time to change football, as Kylian Mbappé would say.”, concludes Elie Dottelonde. Following pressure from the attacker, the FFF had changed the convention of players’ image rights.