The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating potentially anti-competitive behaviour in relation to the price at which Rangers FC-branded replica football kit was sold in the United Kingdom.
The watchdog confirmed it has opened an initial inquiry into Rangers and Hummel - which manufactures the club’s kit - as well as retailers Greaves Sports and JD Sports.
The investigation process, which is expected to take six months, will look into suspected breaches of competition law.
The watchdog stated: “At this stage the CMA believes that it has reasonable grounds to suspect one or more breaches of competition law.
“The CMA has not reached a view as to whether there is sufficient evidence of an infringement of competition law for it to issue a statement of objections or, ultimately, an infringement decision, to any party under investigation.”
It stressed that not all investigations lead to objections or an infringement decision.
A spokesman for JD Sports said: “We are co-operating fully with the investigation and are unable to comment further at this time.”
This is the latest investigation into JD Sports by the CMA, coming just weeks after its decision to block the company’s £90m acquisition of rival Footasylum was reversed by the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
