Championship side Blackburn Rovers are being sued for a minimum of £500,000 by Macron Sportswear UK, the British arm of their former kit supplier. The High Court claim alleges a breach of contract relating to the renewal of a five-year sponsorship deal that concluded in June 2026.
Macron, which served as the club's official technical kit sponsor and supplier since May 2021, initiated legal action earlier this year. Court documents state the company is owed hundreds of thousands of pounds after negotiations to extend the partnership broke down. Blackburn Rovers, who finished 20th in the Championship last season and recently re-appointed Tony Mowbray as manager, are disputing the allegations.
According to legal submissions by Macron's barrister, Nick De Marco KC, the original 2021 agreement included a clause granting Macron a 90-day exclusive period to negotiate a renewal from the beginning of 2025. If no agreement was reached, Blackburn could seek other suppliers, but was then obliged to present any third-party offer to Macron. Macron subsequently had 10 days to submit a 'matching offer' based on four specific criteria: the retainer fee, quantity of free sporting goods, royalties, and bonuses. Crucially, the contract stipulated that Blackburn was bound to accept any such matching offer, with failure to do so entitling Macron to £500,000 plus associated costs.
Mr De Marco outlined that after initial renewal talks failed, Blackburn did send a third-party offer to Macron, which the company claims it matched. However, on 20 June 2025, Blackburn informed Macron it would decline their proposal and proceed with discussions with the third party. The club acknowledged Macron's offer 'appeared to mirror' the new offer in some areas but cited other 'unacceptable' commercial terms. Macron argues Blackburn's subsequent refusal to negotiate or pay the sum constitutes a breach of contract.
In defence, Robert Anderson KC, representing Blackburn, argues the club was within its rights to accept the new supplier's offer because Macron's proposal did not 'match all material terms' of the third-party offer. He contended that while Macron's offer needed to include the four specified criteria, it also had to align with all other significant terms, claiming Macron's offer introduced 'numerous other obligations that were far more onerous for the club.' Mr Anderson suggested that Macron's interpretation would allow it to 'unilaterally impose onerous terms' on the club. Macron's barrister, Mr De Marco, countered by noting Blackburn has not specified what these 'material terms' were.