Authorities request changing “sports names”

Hespress electronic newspaper learned that authorities in a number of provinces and regions sent verbal instructions to sports associations bearing the names of foreign teams, asking them to change these names.

According to the newspaper's sources, in the past few days, many sports associations have received instructions from local authority officials stating that they should stop practicing activities until the names are changed.

The same sources reported that some sports associations, especially those active in the field of football, found themselves banned from practicing their sporting activities, including associations affiliated with the Regional League.

Hespress sources stressed that associations bearing foreign names belonging to well-known sports teams were asked, in addition to changing the name, not to use sports shirts bearing these logos.

According to the newspaper’s sources, many sports associations were prevented from entering stadiums until the authorities received new files indicating that the names of foreign teams had been abandoned.

Well-known sports academies in some cities, the same sources add, received instructions from the authorities to stop the activity and change the name and logo in order to resume it, stating that they were forced to conduct their activity for the benefit of the children involved without their previous shirts.

This situation caused dissatisfaction among sports clubs, especially those active in regional championships, in addition to dissatisfaction with the families of those involved in these sports teams.

Sports events were surprised by the fact that the authorities in some workers issued instructions in the middle of the sports season, highlighting that it was necessary to postpone the decision until the end of the season instead of obstructing these associations in performing their duties.