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A class action-style competition claim over replica football shirts has been settled for less than a top player's weekly wages, damping expectations that the case would lead to a flood of similar actions.  The consumer organisation Which? was seeking compensation from JJB Sports on behalf of people who bought certain types of England and Manchester United shirts between 2000 and 2001. The retailer was one of seven companies fined a total of £16m by the Office of Fair Trading for operating a cartel to rig the price of replica shirts. JJB agreed to pay £20 a shirt to each of the nearly 600 customers who joined the Which? action without admitting any unlawful activity. Some customers bought more than one shirt. The total bill is estimated at around £20,000, excluding legal fees. JJB has already paid a separate £6.7m for its involvement in the cartel.
Under the agreement, fans who bought one of the replica shirts but did not join the Which? action will still be able to claim £10 with proof of purchase, or £5 if they bought a shirt but also took advantage of an earlier JJB offer of a free England away shirt and a mug. In contrast to the US, group actions in Europe can only be brought of behalf of people who formally opt in to the litigation, rather than on behalf of all consumers who may have been affected. The Which? claim against JJB only drew about 600 claimants despite extensive advertising in the press.
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