[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"football-site-config":3,"world-cup-status-en":27,"news-detail-why-athletic-club-s-new-kit-is-under-ifab-investigation":61,"news-related-why-athletic-club-s-new-kit-is-under-ifab-investigation-en":104,"news-related-match-why-athletic-club-s-new-kit-is-under-ifab-investigation-en":224},{"adSlots":4,"affiliateMode":5,"brandName":6,"contentStrategy":7,"currency":8,"friendLinks":9,"homepageLayoutKey":10,"leagueFocus":11,"locale":12,"planVisibility":13,"seoDescription":14,"seoTitleTemplate":15,"siteCode":10,"siteName":6,"siteType":10,"subscriptionMode":5,"timezone":16,"id":17,"tenantID":18,"primaryDomain":19,"countryCode":20,"logoUrl":21,"faviconUrl":21,"theme":22,"seoKeywords":24,"status":25,"ads":4,"focusLeagues":26,"affiliatePolicies":26},[],"shared","Football Prediction Platform","scores_predictions","USD",[],"main",[],"en-US",[],"Football fixtures, results, free predictions, subscriptions, and clearly labeled partner links.","{page} | Football Prediction Platform","America\u002FNew_York",323900000000000000,1,"football.easytestdev.online","US","",{"primaryColor":23},"#1677ff","football predictions, football fixtures, football results","active",null,{"active":28,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueImagePath":31,"seasonId":32,"seasonName":33,"startingAt":34,"endingAt":35,"daysToStart":36,"daysToEnd":37,"phase":38,"includeQualifying":39,"hostCities":40},true,"326135624916537344","World Cup","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fleagues\u002F1.png","326255613308833792","2026\u002F2027","2026-06-11","2026-06-28",-37,-20,"finished_recent",false,[41,42,43,44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59,60],"Atlanta","Boston","Dallas","East Rutherford","Guadalajara","Houston","Kansas City","Los Angeles","Mexico City","Miami","Monterrey","New-York","New York New Jersey","Philadelphia","San-Francisco","San Francisco Bay Area","Seattle","Toronto","Vancouver","Zapopan",{"article":62},{"awayTeamId":63,"awayTeamName":64,"body":65,"category":66,"excerpt":67,"homeTeamId":68,"homeTeamName":69,"id":70,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":71,"matchName":72,"publishedAt":73,"slug":74,"sourceName":75,"sourceURL":76,"teamId":77,"teamName":78,"teamIds":79,"teamNames":91,"title":103},"326222712592666624","Congo DR","Athletic Club's latest kit launch has ignited a political firestorm after the Unión del Pueblo Navarro (UPN) filed an official complaint with the Professional Competition Committee, alleging that the jersey's design violates IFAB regulations on neutrality. The central point of contention is a visual reference to Euskal Herria—a map of the seven historical Basque provinces—prominently displayed alongside the iconic ikurriña flag on the upper back of the shirt. The controversy, which has rapidly escalated from regional political circles to national sports governance, now sees the committee opening an informative file to assess whether the design constitutes an infringement of football's strict rules against political, religious, or personal statements on player equipment.\n\nThe new home strip, which Athletic debuted during their final LaLiga fixture of the season at the Santiago Bernabéu, was conceived as a celebration of the club's deep-rooted identity. According to the club's own promotional material, each of the seven red and white stripes on the shirt represents one of the seven provinces that make up the wider Basque cultural region: Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa, Araba, and Navarre on the Spanish side, and Lapurdi, Zuberoa, and Nafarroa Beherea in France. This act of symbolic unity has been a hallmark of Athletic's philosophy for decades, intertwining football with a profound sense of territorial belonging. The club has remained steadfast in its response, insisting that the design is an homage to its heritage and fanbase, not a political manifesto.\n\nFor UPN, however, the imagery crosses a clear line. Party president Cristina Ibarrola argued that the inclusion of the Euskal Herria map carries an \"inequivocal political-identity charge\" that undermines the mandatory neutrality of sporting competitions. UPN's submission to the committee specifically cites IFAB Law 4, which prohibits players from revealing \"any political, religious, or personal slogans, statements, or images\" on their kits. The party contends that because the map includes Navarre—a region with its own distinct political status within Spain—the design implicitly supports a nationalist narrative that rejects the existing constitutional order. This complaint places Athletic's kit directly under the microscope of football's disciplinary bodies, potentially setting a precedent for how cultural symbols are treated in the sport.\n\nNotably, the Government of Navarre has chosen to distance itself from the controversy. Earlier statements from regional officials indicated that they do not view the kit as problematic, effectively undercutting UPN's claim to speak on behalf of all Navarrese institutions. This division mirrors longstanding political tensions within the region, where Basque identity and Spanish nationalism frequently collide. The government's hands-off approach has been interpreted by many as an acknowledgment that the term \"Euskal Herria\"—with its centuries-old historical usage—does not inherently constitute a political statement, especially when deployed in a sporting context.\n\nAthletic Club's enduring commitment to its cantera policy, which dictates that only players born or raised in the Basque Country and its historical territories can represent the first team, provides essential context for understanding the new kit. This philosophy is not merely a recruitment strategy but a lived expression of regional identity that has defined the club since its foundation in 1898. The seven stripes, therefore, are an extension of this same principle, serving as a visual reminder of the expansive community that the club claims to represent. Past incidents have seen similar debates flare up—from the use of the ikurriña at San Mamés to player expressions of political solidarity—but the direct involvement of league authorities marks a significant escalation.\n\nThe IFAB's rules are deliberately broad, leaving room for interpretation by national associations and competition organizers. While the regulations are clear in prohibiting overt political messaging, the boundary between cultural celebration and political statement is often blurred. The Athletic case echoes recent controversies in other leagues, such as UEFA fines against clubs displaying symbols linked to regional independence movements. If the Competition Committee finds merit in UPN's complaint, possible sanctions could range from a warning and a demand to alter the kit to a more severe punishment like a fine or, in an extreme scenario, a ban on wearing the shirt in official matches. The opening of an informative file does not guarantee disciplinary action, but it signals that the committee deems the matter serious enough to warrant investigation.\n\nFor Athletic, the financial and reputational stakes are considerable. The club has already produced and sold the new kit commercially, and a forced redesign would incur significant costs. More importantly, any ruling against the club would be perceived by its supporters as an attack on Basque identity, potentially straining relations with LaLiga and the Spanish Football Federation. From a competitive standpoint, the uncertainty surrounding the jersey's legality could become a distraction during the off-season, though the club's calm public stance suggests confidence that the design will ultimately be judged as permissible.\n\nThe broader implications for Spanish football are equally weighty. Spain's top division is home to clubs with deeply ingrained regional identities—Barcelona with its Catalan symbolism, Osasuna with Navarrese heritage—all of which operate within a legal framework that guarantees freedom of expression. A punitive decision against Athletic could invite scrutiny of how other clubs express their historical and cultural ties, potentially opening a Pandora's box of regulatory challenges. Conversely, a clear ruling in favor of Athletic could reinforce the principle that football kits can serve as canvases for non-political cultural heritage, providing guidance for future design choices across LaLiga.\n\nAs the informative file progresses, both parties will be notified of the committee's preliminary findings. The process typically involves gathering relevant evidence and arguments before any formal disciplinary proceedings are initiated. In the absence of direct precedent, legal and historical nuances will play a central role. Athletic's legal team is expected to lean heavily on the club's institutional status as a cultural and sporting institution, as well as the widespread acceptance of the term \"Euskal Herria\" beyond political circles. UPN, for its part, will likely emphasize the potential for the symbol to alienate fans and players who do not share a nationalist worldview.\n\nUltimately, the resolution of this case will hinge on whether the committee views the map of Euskal Herria as an intrinsic part of Athletic's heritage or as a deliberate political gesture. The club's rapid response—refusing to fuel the controversy while quietly preparing its defense—underscores its belief that the kit will withstand scrutiny. For now, all eyes are on the Competition Committee's next move, a decision that could reverberate far beyond Bilbao.\n\nBased on reporting from Marca.","news","UPN complained to Competition Committee over Athletic Club kit with Euskal Herria map, IFAB neutrality breach. Informative file opened. Athletic remains calm.","326222712143876096","Portugal","336112516188868609","327115058687512576","Portugal vs Congo DR","2026-05-30T09:53:24Z","why-athletic-club-s-new-kit-is-under-ifab-investigation","Marca","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.marca.com\u002Ffutbol\u002Fathletic\u002F2026\u002F05\u002F30\u002Fathletic-mantiene-calma-frente-interesada-polemica-camiseta.html","326257565275000832","Athletic Club",[77,68,63,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90],"326257539962376192","326255040677285888","326255043030290432","326257534648193024","326257537596788736","326257565778317312","326257565195309056","326222711447621632","326222711653142528","326257647399473152","326222707169431552",[78,69,64,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,100,101,102],"Como","Universitatea Craiova","Universitatea Cluj","Union Berlin","FC Porto","Osasuna","Barcelona","France","Spain","Araba","Anderlecht","Why Athletic Club's New Kit Is Under IFAB Investigation",[105,136,166,195],{"awayTeamId":-1,"awayTeamName":-1,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":106,"homeTeamId":-1,"homeTeamName":-1,"id":107,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":108,"matchName":21,"publishedAt":109,"slug":110,"sourceName":111,"sourceURL":112,"teamId":113,"teamName":114,"teamIds":115,"teamNames":125,"title":135},"Guéla Doué scored and assisted as Ivory Coast beat France 2-1 in a friendly, outshining his brother Désiré who featured for Les Bleus in the sibling showdown.","338200147588550657","0","2026-06-05T04:00:00Z","guela-doue-downs-brother-s-france-ivorian-2-1-win","L'Equipe","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUn-but-et-une-passe-decisive-contre-la-france-la-soiree-de-reve-pour-guela-doue-avec-la-cote-d-ivoire\u002F1681944#at_medium=RSS_feeds","326222712533946368","Ivory Coast",[113,87,116,117,118,119,120,121,122,123,124,90],"326255037997125632","326257536145559552","326222711401484288","326222767416414208","326257536078450688","326257536296554496","326257537865224192","326257686389723136","326257535994564608",[114,99,126,127,128,129,130,131,132,133,134,102],"Strasbourg","Rennes","Belgium","Lesotho","Paris Saint Germain","Auxerre","Estoril","Together","Nantes","Guéla Doué downs brother's France: Ivorian 2-1 win",{"awayTeamId":137,"awayTeamName":138,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":139,"homeTeamId":140,"homeTeamName":141,"id":142,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":143,"matchName":144,"publishedAt":145,"slug":146,"sourceName":147,"sourceURL":148,"teamId":140,"teamName":141,"teamIds":149,"teamNames":157,"title":165},"326222712622026752","South Africa","Shakira & Burna Boy sing 'Dai Dai' at 2026 World Cup opener June 11 in Mexico City, with J Balvin, Tyla. Buble, Morissette, Perry, Future lead other ceremonies.","326222711908995072","Mexico","338120887364489217","327115024327774208","Mexico vs South Africa","2026-06-04T22:48:54Z","shakira-burna-boy-to-open-2026-world-cup-in-mexico","BBC Sport","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.bbc.com\u002Fsport\u002Ffootball\u002Farticles\u002Fc8939ykg3qgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss",[140,137,150,151,152,90,153,154,86,155,156],"326222712936599552","326222713142120448","326257593007738880","326222713016291328","326257563345620992","326222711623782400","326257791226351616",[141,138,158,159,160,102,161,162,98,163,164],"Paraguay","Canada","Azteca","USA","Heracles","Colombia","Nigeria","Shakira, Burna Boy to Open 2026 World Cup in Mexico",{"awayTeamId":167,"awayTeamName":168,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":169,"homeTeamId":87,"homeTeamName":99,"id":170,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":171,"matchName":172,"publishedAt":173,"slug":174,"sourceName":111,"sourceURL":175,"teamId":113,"teamName":114,"teamIds":176,"teamNames":185,"title":194},"326222711783165952","Senegal","France lose first friendly under Deschamps, 2-1 to Ivory Coast in Nantes, revealing defensive issues 10 days before World Cup start vs Senegal.","338126221931974657","327115052106649600","France vs Senegal","2026-06-04T22:34:17Z","bleus-lose-friendly-under-deschamps-2-1-to-ivory-coast","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FArticle\u002FUne-defaite-ni-vraiment-grave-ni-completement-anodine-pour-les-bleus-a-dix-jours-de-leur-entree-en-scene-au-mondial\u002F1681936#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[113,87,167,124,177,150,119,178,179,180,122,181,182,183,184,90],"326257810885054464","326255039846813696","326255041625198592","326257536413995008","326257541157752832","326257545754710016","326257554411753472","326257789708013568",[114,99,168,134,186,158,129,187,188,189,132,190,191,192,193,102],"York","FK Partizan","Partizani","Paris FC","Galatasaray","Newcastle","Newcastle Jets","China","Bleus Lose Friendly Under Deschamps: 2-1 to Ivory Coast",{"awayTeamId":196,"awayTeamName":197,"body":-1,"category":66,"excerpt":198,"homeTeamId":87,"homeTeamName":99,"id":199,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"matchId":200,"matchName":201,"publishedAt":202,"slug":203,"sourceName":111,"sourceURL":204,"teamId":87,"teamName":99,"teamIds":205,"teamNames":214,"title":223},"326222712819159040","Iraq","Lucas Hernandez: France's 1-2 friendly loss to Ivory Coast is better now than June 16 World Cup opener vs Senegal, with Northern Ireland test next.","338124609578602497","327115069915664384","France vs Iraq","2026-06-04T22:32:57Z","hernandez-france-loss-better-now-than-june-16","https:\u002F\u002Fwww.lequipe.fr\u002FFootball\u002FActualites\u002FLucas-hernandez-apres-la-defaite-1-2-de-la-france-contre-la-cote-d-ivoire\u002F1681942#at_medium=RSS_feeds",[87,196,113,167,206,207,208,122,181,209,210,211,212,213],"326257664243798016","326257535885512704","326222712013852672","326257556060114944","326257565845426176","326257695210344448","326257796423094272","326222712898850816",[99,197,114,168,215,216,217,132,190,218,219,220,221,222],"Northern Ireland","Lille","Iran","Estudiantes L.P.","Mallorca","Signal","Russia","Qatar","Hernandez: France Loss Better Now Than June 16",{"awayScore":225,"awayTeam":226,"description":230,"homeScore":225,"homeTeam":231,"id":71,"kickoffAt":235,"length":236,"leagueId":29,"leagueName":30,"leagueSlug":237,"probabilityLabel":30,"slug":238,"status":239,"tvStations":240,"venueCity":46,"venueName":241},0,{"code":227,"id":63,"imagePath":228,"name":64,"slug":229},"AWY","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F1508.png","congo-dr","Portugal face Congo DR in a pivotal Group stage match, with both sides needing points to keep their knockout hopes alive. A win for Portugal would solidify their position, while Congo DR must upset the European giants to stay in contention. The result could determine the group's final standings.",{"code":232,"id":68,"imagePath":233,"name":69,"slug":234},"HME","https:\u002F\u002Fmedia.api-sports.io\u002Ffootball\u002Fteams\u002F27.png","portugal","2026-06-17T17:00:00Z",90,"world-cup","portugal-vs-congo-dr-2026-06-17","scheduled",[],"NRG Stadium"]