A recent controversy arose as Gateway United FC of Abeokuta refuted claims of a 13-1 loss to Al Merrikh in a friendly match. The club clarified that it was another Nigerian team using their name and logo without authorization that faced the embarrassing defeat.
In a statement released by the media department on Thursday, titled “Unauthorised use of Gateway United FC name, logo,” the Nigeria National League side strongly warned the impersonating team against misusing their identity.
The statement highlighted, ”It has been brought to our notice that a team posing as Gateway FC recently competed against Al Merrikh and endured a 13-1 loss. We would like to make it clear that Gateway United FC was not involved in this match. The unauthorized use of our club’s name and logo in this event was done without our knowledge or consent.
“To set the record straight, Gateway United Football Club in Ogun State, headquartered at MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, was completely unaware of this match.
“We are grateful for the continued support of our fans as we deal with this issue. We assure you that we are taking necessary measures to prevent such incidents in the future. We caution anyone or any entity impersonating Gateway United FC to cease immediately or face legal consequences. Additionally, we demand that Al Merrikh remove our logo from their website and social media platforms without delay.
“For official announcements and updates pertaining to Gateway United FC, please refer to our verified communication channels.
We appreciate your ongoing support.”