Largest football club in Romania loses its brand in court

Steaua Bucharest, the largest football club in Romania, controlled by local businessman Gigi Becali, has lost its brand “Steaua Bucuresti”, following a decision of Romania’s supreme court - ICCJ. Romania’s High Court of Cassation and Justice (ICCJ) ruled against Becali’s football club in a case in which the Army’s Sports Club, which is also called “Steaua Bucuresti” asked the court to cancel the registration of the Steaua Bucharest Football Club, which was made in January 2004, at the State Office for Inventions and Trademarks – OSIM, according to Mediafax. This is an older case, in which the Romanian Ministry of Defence, which owns the Army’s Sports Club Steaua Bucuresti, sued Gigi Becali and his football club for illegally using the brand “Steaua”. Football Club Steaua Bucuresti used to be part of the Army’s Sports Club. In the ‘90s, the football club was taken over by private investors, who got the approval from the Ministry of Defence to use the brand. In 2004, Gigi Becali took over the club and also tried to take over the brand, and the club’s colours and track record, but the Army didn’t want to give it to him. Becali, however, used some technicalities to continue using the club’s brand and its history, according to local ProSport.ro. The ruling of the supreme court now forces Becali and his club either to negotiate a new deal with the Army’s Sports Club, in order to get approval to use the Steaua Bucuresti brand for the future, or to change the name of the club and to lose its track record before 2004. Steaua Bucuresti is the most successful Romanian football club, but most of its international performances date from before 1990. Steaua is the only Romanian club to have won a Champions Cup title (the current Champions League), in 1986, after beating FC Barcelona. In 1990, Steaua played their second Champions Cup final, which they lost to AC Milan. Steaua has won 25 league titles in Romania and 21 cup titles. editor@romania-insider.com