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Last week, when a judge handed down his ruling in the case between New Balance and Liverpool as the equipment manufacturer looked to retain their biggest football client, he ruled that there could be no appeal.
Despite that, New Balance petitioned the high court to allow just that—but, in what will come as no surprise given that initial ruling, they have again been denied the right to appeal, formally ending the case.
New Balance’s attempts to appeal High Court verdict over kit deal rejected. Draws a line under legal case. Liverpool will go with Nike from next season.
— paul joyce (@_pauljoyce) November 1, 2019
If it wasn’t official enough for everyone before—and, realistically, this case has been fully decided since the ruling was handed down—it certainly is now. No matter if New Balance tried to match Nike’s offer in good faith, they fell short.
Having, according to the initial court ruling and with their petition to appeal now rejected, not been able to match that offer, Nike will become Liverpool’s kit manufacturer starting with the 2020-21 season.
Which isn’t exactly new news. But hopefully this time around it’s final news in the matter and all parties can move on—and Nike and Liverpool can begin to put the finishing touches on any plans for next season that are in the works.