Soccer’s world governing body Fifa has lost its lawsuit against sportswear company Puma, which manufactured the catsuit — a one piece jersey and shorts suit — worn by the Cameroon national team during the 2004 African Nations Cup.
A German court ruled on Wednesday that the catsuit did not violate football’s rules on playing apparel.
Judge Ingrid Kefer ruled: “There is nothing [in the rules of football] that says shorts and shirts must not be linked together.”
Judge Kefer said that football’s governing body had been arbitrary in the enforcement of its rules and had broken cartel regulations.
Puma is seeking $2,6-million in damages and a declaration that it can market the catsuit.
Cameroon was fined $150 000 and docked six points. However, the Fifa congress overturned the deduction of points.
The court ruling came in the same week that Fifa renewed its threat to ban another African soccer powerhouse, Nigeria, from the World Cup qualifiers for its failure to introduce reforms in the administration of the game in that country.
Fifa is unhappy that the Nigerian government can nominate members to its football association, a contravention of Fifa statutes.
The Nigerian Football Association has insisted that it has effected the changes in line with Fifa’s prescriptions, but that the govern- ment has been slow in ratifying the reforms.
Fifa’s patience is wearing thin because Nigeria was given until the end of last year to comply.
Should Nigeria be kicked out of the World Cup, it would open the door for Angola and Zimbabwe, who are second and third respectively in Group 4 of the qualifiers.