Santiago City have risked incurring the wrath of Premier League champions Manchester City by continuing to wear their training kit despite a cease and desist warning being lodged.
The Chilean third tier side are yet to play a professional game but have been accused of confusing the public into believing they are part of the City Football Group (CFG).
Along with their biggest team in Manchester, CFG also have teams in Melbourne, Montevideo, New York City, Mumbai and Troyes among others.
Santiago’s newest team have images on their social media of a badge which has major and striking similarities to the crests used by CFG.
Mail Sport reported that on Wednesday, a cease and desist order was issued to the club, sent via Chilean lawyers Sargent & Krahn who specialise in intellectual property.
The nine-page document alleges that Santiago has an ‘unauthorised use of trademark and characteristic design’.
“The design you are using cannot co-exist with Manchester City trademarks,” the letter from the CFG’s legal team read.
“Failure to comply with the foregoing may lead our client to take legal action against you; however it is in the interest of all parties if it is resolved amicably.”
But that warning appears to have had little impact with images on the club’s social media showing players and staff still wearing the jerseys with the offending badge present.
On Thursday, the club’s website appeared to be down, although they have continued to post pictures to their 1,700 Twitter followers.
In a reply published in the Chilean press, Santiago officials said: This is a humble club that registered the name of Santiago City and in no case has alluded to – or hinted at – that it is part of any business group.
“We sent our answer within the indicated deadlines.”
In 2015, following a fan vote, Man City confirmed they would be rebranding with the new crest coming into use from the start of the 2016/17 campaign.
San City’s training and match kits have been produced by Adidas as opposed to Puma, who have a 10-year deal with Pep Guardiola’s side.
The sportswear giant signed the decade-long agreement, which is worth an estimated £65million per season, in February 2019.
According to Spanish publication El Deportivo, Santiago’s lawyers are hoping to find an amicable resolution to the dispute.
