Belgian football club Beerschot responded with an official statement to the accusations of plagiarism regarding the new football shirt. Diana Al Shammari accused the club of having copied the flower pattern.
Al Shammari is known on Instagram as ‘Thefootballgal’. On her account she enriches football shirts with embroidery. In the past she has worked with the Red Devils, Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Adidas. Now the same kind of embroidery has appeared on the shirt of Beerschot. According to Al Shammari there is a copying.
She responded under the first Instagram post in which Beerschot unveiled the new shirt. Subsequently, the CEO of Nova, the production company of the shirts, responded, and an argument arose. The CEO then indicated that they contacted the designer for a collaboration, but did not receive an answer. The company then continued on its own. Shammari insists on a scheme with Beerschot, but if it does not come, she will take legal steps.
The official explanation of Beerschot puts things in a different light. The club starts to state that the design is completely independent and that it is not inspired by specific designs of a third party.
“This shirt originated during an internal design review, inspired by Antwerp, the rich fashion history of the city and well -known designers. Flower motifs have been part of Antwerp fashion for decades. Think of the work of Dries van Noten and other designers who are known worldwide for their floral styles.” The club also writes that the purple violin, which can be seen on the shirt, symbolizes Beerschot. “The result is its own design, originating from different influences and design ideas.”
Whether it will come to legal steps from Al Shammari, which she hinted earlier if no arrangement would be made, is currently unclear.
