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A watchdog has decided to proceed with a probe into Rangers and four sportswear brands over pricing of replica football kits.
The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is looking into allegations of “anti-competitive” behaviour over how much the strips were on sale for in the UK.
Rangers, its previous kit manufacturer Hummel and retailers JD Sports, Greaves Sports and LBJ Sports Apparel Limited, trading as Elite, are being looked at by the CMA.
In their latest updates on the case, the government competitions watchdog said a decision has been taken to “proceed with the
investigation”.
They said “further information gathering” was now under way, with further details expected by March next year.
Investigators are understood to be looking at one or more possible breaches of competition law in relation to the price of the old kit.
The investigation started in December last year and could take up to 18 months to conclude. The Rangers Hummel strip was selling at £60 for the top alone and up to £85 for the full kit.
Rangers’ kit is now made by the Castore brand, which is unconnected to the CMA probe.
A spokesman for JD Sports said: “JD is fully co-operating with the CMA during its investigation.”
Rangers, Hummel, Greaves and Elite were asked to comment.
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