Stanford 'will not be bullied' in sponsorship row

	Allen Stanford: caught in a row with West Indies' sponsors, Digicel © Getty Images

The organisers of November's Stanford 20/20 for 20 have hit back in the row over sponsorship rights that is threatening to engulf the contest, accusing Digicel, the main sponsors of West Indies cricket, of "bullying" tactics as they attempt to secure the billing to which they believe their five-year deal with the WICB entitles them. In the opinion of the Stanford camp, their behaviour is little more than an attempt to muscle in on the considerable media attention that is being generated around the US$20 million event.

Digicel maintains that its existing contract includes the Stanford match as it is officially sanctioned by the board and the team is, in effect, a fully representative side. Stanford counters that its "All-Stars" side is not official and, as such, is outside any existing sponsorship deal, and in a strongly worded press release on Monday afternoon, stated that it was "disappointed, though not surprised" by Digicel's behaviour. The matter has already reached the High Court in London where Digicel were granted an injunction against Stanford proceeding with the event, and arbitration is due to begin on October 3.

On Sunday, Digicel accused Stanford 20/20 of "inaccuracies" in its presentation of the facts of the case, and claimed that its representatives had "flatly refused" to consider a compromise deal. The Stanford camp has rebutted this charge and responded to the accusations with some robust language of its own. "Stanford 20/20 has no wish to conduct its business through the media," read a statement, "but feels it must respond to the inaccurate and misleading statements being issued by Digicel in this regard."

In particular, the Stanford camp objects to the suggestion that Digicel's original compromise solution - which involved the All-Stars side wearing official West Indies kit with Digicel branding, with no other telecommunications company involved in the event; and with Digicel's costs being paid for by the board - was "rejected outright" by the organisers. Stanford claim that, after Digicel made its proposal public on September 11, a counter-proposal was returned and "ample time" was allowed for Digicel to respond away from the pressure of media scrutiny.

"There is absolutely no merit in Digicel's latest suggestion," read the statement. "After careful consideration with WICB and the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB), Stanford 20/20 agreed to the majority of Digicel's original demands, even offering valuable sponsorship rights to which Digicel was not entitled under its agreement with WICB, and offering to pay Digicel's legal costs. Stanford 20/20 declined to meet only one of Digicel's demands - the demand that the Digicel logo appears on the Stanford Superstars jersey at no cost for a five-year period.

"Digicel has contended repeatedly in the media that it already owns the right for the Digicel logo to appear on the Stanford Superstars jersey and that it has already paid for such right," the statement continued. "In fact, such claims go way beyond any rights Digicel has in its contract with WICB and, so far as Stanford 20/20 is aware, Digicel has not made any similar claims in its court proceedings against WICB. Stanford 20/20's counter-offer addressed all of Digicel's legitimate rights under its agreement with WICB and so Stanford 20/20 is mystified as to why Digicel publicly continues to demand more.

"Stanford 20/20 suspects that such claims are in fact a barely concealed attempt to create media pressure upon Stanford 20/20 in order that Digicel can achieve some commercial advantage beyond that to which it is entitled. It is hard for Stanford 20/20 to understand how such behaviour can be deemed to be in the "best interests of West Indies cricket" as Digicel continually claims. Stanford 20/20 will not be bullied in this way and will respond appropriately to such behaviour under legal advice."

"Stanford 20/20 has informed Digicel that should it wish to have its logo carried on the Stanford Superstars jersey the two companies can engage in negotiations for Digicel to come on board as a presenting sponsor for the Stanford Super Series. Digicel has rejected this outright but that offer remains open for discussion as far as Stanford 20/20 is concerned."