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NFF Sponsors Threaten to Cancel Contracts Over Ambush Marketing(AllAfrica Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Barring any last minutes intervention, the Nigeria Football Federation's sponsors might cancel their existing contracts with the football house following infringements on their exclusive marketing rights. The pull out is necessitated by ambush marketing and the proliferation of companies who hitherto were never part of NFF's sponsors using the Super Eagles and their coaches for brand endorsements and adverts. In view of these violations, the NFF during the week came out hard against brewing giant, Nigeria Breweries Plc, for its deliberate infringement on the guidelines for associating with the national team and becoming legitimate sponsors. NFF's concerns on the violations of its rights on the Super Eagles and by implications the rights of its official sponsors have once again called to question APCON's regulatory standards. Under Chapter Three (Special Provisions) in the APCON alcoholic beverages regulations, Article 32 (b), 33 (b), 34 (b) and 35 (b) clearly states that "children, sports men/women and pregnant women shall not be used as models" in advertising alcoholic beverages. Analysts believe these sections have been subtly violated by popular lager brand, Star's endorsement of ex-Super Eagles internationals as its sports brand ambassadors, showcasing advertising communications with these models. More so, APCON has been fingered for playing double standard in the regulatory approval in the alcoholic beverage industry involving the two brewing giants less than a year ago. Analysts have queried why Nigeria Breweries was allowed to advertise its premium lager beer on UEFA Champions League matches broadcast before 8.p.m while Guinness Nigeria was sanctioned on the same and instructed to withdraw the advertisement during English Premiership League. Copyright This Day. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). |