Puma wins kit lawsuit against FIFA

The German sports goods manufacturer has won its lawsuit against world football body FIFA in a row over a ban on Cameroon's controversial one-piece. Regional court Nuremberg-Fuerth Judge Ingrid Kefer has decreed that Cameroon's cat-suit strip at last year's African Cup of Nations did not contravene football's kit rules. She ruled that FIFA had failed to enforce its rules properly and broke cartel regulations. The sportswear manufacturer wants US$2.6 million in damages from FIFA and a declaration that it can market the uniform. Puma has alleged that the decision was influenced by rivals Adidas, an official partner of the governing body. The Indomitable Lions wore a strip combining a jersey and short into a single piece of kit. FIFA fined the Central African nation US$150,000 for wearing the one-piece uniform and also docked six points from the country's qualifying campaign for the FIFA 2006 World Cup finals. The deduction of points was subsequently reversed at a FIFA congress in Paris. Kefer gave FIFA's lawyers four weeks to forward a written statement and a final ruling on the case is expected on 1 June. Cameroon and Puma have claimed they had approval from FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to wear the cat-suit.

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