Menu
Marketing and Sponsorship

Reebok Removes UFC Ireland Shirt From Online Store Following Controversy

Reebok removed a "controversial T-shirt from its online store on Wednesday after harsh criticism" from fans, who decried it as "insensitive and offensive," according to Bryan Armen Graham of the London GUARDIAN. The "UFC Ireland Map Tee," made available this week in advance of Saturday's Fight Night 76 card in Dublin, "features a map of Ireland with Northern Ireland omitted, leaving only the Republic of Ireland pictured." The "unfortunately worded description for the shirt" -- which retailed for €23 ($26) before it was taken down -- read, "Show your UFC territorial allegiance with this UFC Ireland map tee." The company, which in '14 signed a six-year deal worth a reported $70M to become the UFC's exclusive outfitter and apparel provider, blamed a "design flaw" for the gaffe. Reebok's U.K. subsidiary "expressed regret for the controversy in a statement issued Wednesday after it was removed." The company said, "We sincerely apologise for the offence caused by the UFC Ireland T-shirt. This was a design error and has now been removed" (GUARDIAN, 10/21).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/10/23/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Reebok-UFC.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2015/10/23/Marketing-and-Sponsorship/Reebok-UFC.aspx

CLOSE