An Italian court has determined that the contract signed by Stefano Ceci, a partner of the late Argentine star, was detrimental to the star’s heirs. Moreover, he ordered a severe embargo.
Diego Maradona died almost two years ago, in November 2020, but his silhouette continues to make people talk. From now on, the one who revives it is Italian justice, which has decided to ban Naples, the team in which the Ten shone in Italy, from continuing to wear the jersey which contains the face of the best footballer of the 20th century, according to FIFA. , a seat shared with the Brazilian Pelé, according to polls carried out by the entity that governs world football.
The measurement is part of the opinion of judge Paolo Andrea Vassallo, who heard the arguments presented by Jorge Sebastian Baglietto, judicial administrator who protects the interests of the five children of the former captain of the Argentine team in the dispute with Stefano Ceci, representing legal of Diez Fze, a company based in Dubai, who owns the image rights of the former player and who even markets a line of clothing with his name and other symbols associated with his silhouette.
Napoli had bought it
Napoli had used Maradona’s image precisely as a result of an agreement signed with Ceci. The heirs of Diez requested the embargo on the resources generated by this contract, for an amount of at least 450 thousand dollars . The pact Ceci signed with Napoli did not exceed $23,000 but the deal is believed to cause damage to the ex-footballer’s heirs. “Harmful to fairness expectations », determines justice, considering the condition of «soccer planetary symbol left-handed. This quality,recognized and recognizable throughout the world, whose economic value seems to be of considerable importance, almost inestimable “, allows at least to suspect that the profits that can be drawn from the exploitation of its image can be substantial.
As published by the newspaper The Republic , the marketing of some six thousand jackets bearing the image of Maradona would have produced a gross income of 900 thousand dollars . Of this figure, half must have gone to the star’s offspring. This had been warned by an official communication sent by the legal representatives of the latter that the use of the image of the trans-Andean figure was “improper ”.
As it was no longer possible to intervene in the sale of clothing, and considering that the club was in good faith, justice has determined a preventive embargo of 150 thousand dollars to Ceci, in the face of his “abusive behavior” .
Coppola’s conviction
At the end of April, in an interview with El Deportivo, Guillermo Coppola, historical representative of Maradona, expressed his apprehensions about Ceci’s performance. “The brand belongs to the family. He is not anymore. Up to a percentage you can donate. I understand it like that. Now, Mr. Ceci has arrived in Cuba. An Italian. He accompanied us at one point. Today, he owns the brand. He decided. Did they point a gun at you to mark you? I understand not. I do not know. So it’s in one. Does it suit me or does it not suit me? Am I entitled or not? We haven’t spoken to Dr. Morla in a long time. Somehow the dialogue was cut off. I never clocked. I was a friend, my brother. I can’t begin to talk about the others who weren’t, ”said the most emblematic agent of the Pibe de Oro.
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Source: Latercera
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
