Concern for “Mushroom League”
UEFA isn’t suing Hessian pizza
2/1/2022 at 8:32 p.m
Shademan Souri has reason to be happy as UEFA has given him plenty of attention. The owner of a pizza manufacturer had to fear a lawsuit because of the “Champignons League”, but he can breathe a sigh of relief. UEFA doesn’t believe the food will harm the Champions League.
A pizza with mushrooms can’t pose a threat to the Champions League – the European Football Union (UEFA) now sees that and has decided against a legal dispute with the Gießen-based company. This sells a pizza called “Champignons League” from the Hessian university town – and was therefore contacted by UEFA.
“The UEFA Champions League can live with this delicious-sounding pizza,” said the governing body. One takes the protection of “intellectual property seriously, of course, but in this case an overzealous local brand representative seems to have acted too hastily.” Some people would also have “made a drama out of this story”.
On Sunday, the Gießen company Pizzabande GmbH published a letter from a lawyer via Instagram, which was received on behalf of UEFA. A breach of licensing law should be checked, UEFA has had the term “Champions League” protected for the premier class in European club football. In retrospect, the matter was a PR blessing for “Pizza Cloud”. “For God’s sake,” said owner Shademan Souri, “why should we discontinue the pizza? It’s the most famous frozen pizza in the world right now.”
The curious dispute had even caused a stir internationally. According to Souri, he has given more than 60 interviews in the past few days, and even the English BBC called. “UEFA gave us the penalty without a goalie,” he said. “All we had to do then was put the ball in. As a small start-up that doesn’t have the funds for big marketing campaigns, you accept that with gratitude.”
And if you go to Souri, you’re welcome to go a little further. “Maybe we can make a great action out of it, from which both will benefit,” he said: “Because I think that would do the image of both really good.”