Maradona takes aim at 2 Chinese firms
By Zhu Shenshen |
August 18, 2012, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
SOCCER superstar Diego Maradona appeared in a Beijing court yesterday, suing two Chinese Internet firms over the use of his image in an online game.
The case against Beijing Sina Internet Information Service Co Ltd - operator of Sina.com - and Shanghai-based The9 Ltd was heard in the Beijing Municipal No. 2 Intermediate People's Court. Details of the proceedings were not released.
The 51-year-old former Argentine manager and player was accusing the two firms of running an online gaming site - "Hot Blooded Soccer" - using his cartoon image and name without his consent.
Maradona is seeking 20 million yuan (US$3.2 million) in compensation.
His cartoon image, wearing an Argentina shirt and rolling his eyes, could still be found on the game's website, qiuqiu.9c.com, yesterday.
In June 2010, The9 announced that Maradona had agreed the company could use his image in its game "Crazy Soccer" or "Re Xue Qiu Qiu."
Both sides also discussed a possible cooperation between Maradona and the Shanghai Shenhua football club.
However, Maradona denied that he had any contact or meeting with Zhu Jun, chairman of both The9 and Shanghai Shenhua.
In March this year, Maradona, represented by the Beijing Zhong Yin Law Firm, began his legal action against The9 and Sina over the use of his image.
The9 claims it paid US$250,000 to Maradona as endorsement fees through a middleman and had a contract signed by Maradona himself.
The lawsuit may not be the only item on Maradona's agenda during his visit to China this week.
The Argentinian sports daily Ole reported last month that the former World Cup winner "met in Dubai with envoys from a Chinese club and is enthusiastic about the idea of coaching over there."
In July, Maradona was fired from his post as coach of the United Arab Emirates' Al Wasl FC, after a poor season.
During a discussion with a soccer official at the State General Administration of Sport last week, Maradona said he was interested in coming to China to help train young football players.
But neither Maradona nor Wei Di, the official, answered questions about whether the Mexico 1986 World Cup champion would get a coaching job in China.
The case against Beijing Sina Internet Information Service Co Ltd - operator of Sina.com - and Shanghai-based The9 Ltd was heard in the Beijing Municipal No. 2 Intermediate People's Court. Details of the proceedings were not released.
The 51-year-old former Argentine manager and player was accusing the two firms of running an online gaming site - "Hot Blooded Soccer" - using his cartoon image and name without his consent.
Maradona is seeking 20 million yuan (US$3.2 million) in compensation.
His cartoon image, wearing an Argentina shirt and rolling his eyes, could still be found on the game's website, qiuqiu.9c.com, yesterday.
In June 2010, The9 announced that Maradona had agreed the company could use his image in its game "Crazy Soccer" or "Re Xue Qiu Qiu."
Both sides also discussed a possible cooperation between Maradona and the Shanghai Shenhua football club.
However, Maradona denied that he had any contact or meeting with Zhu Jun, chairman of both The9 and Shanghai Shenhua.
In March this year, Maradona, represented by the Beijing Zhong Yin Law Firm, began his legal action against The9 and Sina over the use of his image.
The9 claims it paid US$250,000 to Maradona as endorsement fees through a middleman and had a contract signed by Maradona himself.
The lawsuit may not be the only item on Maradona's agenda during his visit to China this week.
The Argentinian sports daily Ole reported last month that the former World Cup winner "met in Dubai with envoys from a Chinese club and is enthusiastic about the idea of coaching over there."
In July, Maradona was fired from his post as coach of the United Arab Emirates' Al Wasl FC, after a poor season.
During a discussion with a soccer official at the State General Administration of Sport last week, Maradona said he was interested in coming to China to help train young football players.
But neither Maradona nor Wei Di, the official, answered questions about whether the Mexico 1986 World Cup champion would get a coaching job in China.
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