Trabzonspor releases official statement on Mohamed Salah

Trabzonspor have released an official statement warning against the unauthorized commercial exploitation of Mohamed Salah, confirming the club will take strict legal action against entities improperly using the forward's name and image.

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Unsanctioned advertising campaigns

The Egyptian international is currently enjoying a phenomenal start to his career in Turkey, having recently guided Trabzonspor to a commanding 4-0 victory over Galatasaray with a memorable hat-trick.

However, his massive popularity and immediate on-pitch impact have prompted a wave of unsanctioned promotional campaigns.

According to a club statement circulated via Trabz10 TV, Trabzonspor’s hierarchy has observed a surge in third-party businesses utilizing Salah's likeness alongside the official club kit for financial gain, despite lacking formal partnership agreements.

“The transfer of Mohamed Salah to our club has generated immense excitement in the sports community and around the world. However, we have noticed that following this transfer, some commercial entities have initiated advertising campaigns using Salah’s images, his name and the Trabzonspor shirt” the statement read.

Protecting brand and image rights

The club stressed that the Egypt national team captain's presence in their squad does not grant external parties free rein over his highly lucrative commercial rights.

“The fact that Salah plays for Trabzonspor does not give third parties the right to use his name and images for commercial purposes. In particular, using Salah’s images to promote products and services or creating the impression among the public of a commercial partnership or official sponsorship... are legally unacceptable” the club clarified.

The Turkish side emphasized that these actions violate both the player's personal image rights and the club's established intellectual property and commercial reputation.

Legal measures underway

To combat the issue, Trabzonspor’s legal department is actively compiling evidence of trademark and image infractions to pursue in court.

“We would like to inform the public that our club is documenting advertisements and commercial uses that violate the rights of Salah and Trabzonspor and that necessary legal and judicial measures will be taken regarding any violations observed” the statement confirmed, concluding that "the love of football and sports support do not justify the unauthorized use of legally protected rights for commercial purposes"

The commercial weight of a superstar

Salah's high-profile move to Turkey brought not just elite footballing quality but immense commercial value, particularly across the Middle East and North Africa.

For a club like Trabzonspor, protecting these exclusive marketing rights is essential to securing official, highly lucrative sponsorship deals.

Permitting rampant unauthorized usage would dilute the exclusive value of legitimate corporate partnerships making aggressive legal protection a financial necessity.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.

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