Fans call foul on Euros sticker book debacle as Panini lose out to Topps for right to sell them - but new firm printed them BEFORE the knock-out stages and does not even have permission to feature all the players
- The Topps album failed to impress many fans and includes unselected players
After 47 years of Panini holding the rights to distribute the official Euros sticker book, this year the contract has gone to Topps - but it doesn't have permission to include all the players.
Italian company Panini isn't going down without a fight and will still produce an album.
The collectables company has supplied sticker albums for every Euros tournament since 1977, but last summer's competition will now go down as its last.
The Topps version has failed to impress many fans. It was printed before the qualification stages were complete, according to The Times.
This means Wales is included, despite being knocked out by Poland.
And while Topps holds the overall rights, Panini retains those to aspects of some teams.
So five of the teams, including England, can only be shown in their kit by Panini.
People exchange Panini World Cup football stickers in 2022. It has now lost the contract
Panini has lost its contract with UEFA to produce stickers for the European Championships
The collectables company have been producing sticker albums for the Euros since 1977, but UEFA will be replacing them with Topps for future tournaments and Nations League finals
Topps has filled out the squad with players such as Luke Thomas for England, who has never been selected, for their sticker album as Panini retains the rights to some players
Topps instead has to show headshots and in some cases, Panini holds the rights to individual players.
So the US company is forced to fill out the squad with players such as Luke Thomas for England, who has never been selected.
Phil Foden and John Stones have both been reportedly snubbed from England's Euro 2024 sticker album by Topps.
The company is contracted to produce sticker albums for the 2024 and 2028 men's Euros, the 2025 women's Euros and Nations League finals through 2028.
Panini has produced a very slimmed-down album of England, Spain, Germany, France and Italy. Despite being smaller, this still has 387 sticker slots to Topps' 728.
Neither album is really fully complete as a result. And due to the purchasers usually being younger, parents may find themselves buying both.
This has been described as 'dropping the ball' for both manufacturers by one YouTube trading card trader.
Filling the Panini album would cost £70 and for Topps this would come to a whopping £122.
The Panini World Cup football album and stickers in 2022 before Topps took over the contract
Jose Mourinho has been promoting Topp's sticker book for the 2024 European Championships
John Stones (left) and Phil Foden (right) have reportedly been omitted from the sticker book
But in reality, many who finish the album will pay several times this, with The Times reporting statisticians as estimating a cost of £1,000 to fill both.
Topps, who were acquired by memorabilia giant Fanatics for almost $500million (£382million) in 2022, is already the official partner of the Champions league and other UEFA club competitions.
A spokesperson for Topps said: 'Topps is proud of its first EURO 2024 sticker collection for the upcoming competition.
'While we are disappointed that a small number of players are missing, this is due to the tournament’s former sticker partner having blocked certain parts of the collection to the detriment of the fans.
'Unlike the former sticker partner, we are committed to the fans and believe the offering of stickers and cards – and range of current and former players – will get everyone excited for the tournament.'
Topps have also brought in legendary manager Jose Mourinho to promote the collectables book who has taken over the trading card companies office.
Mark Catlin, general manager of international sports and entertainment at Topps, said in a statement previously: 'The European Championship is the biggest and most prestigious football event on a national level in Europe. [They boast a] legacy when it comes to stickers, trading cards and collectables.
Mourinho previously confirmed the partnership in a video on Instagram and wrote the caption: 'It’s official! You can call me manager of all European national teams for 2024 for @topps.
'Topps will be the the official licensed partner of the @UEFA EURO 2024™️ and I will select the players that will be included in the sticker album and Topps collections. You want to know which players are on my watchlist? Well, all of them!
Panini will remain FIFA's partner for the World Cup in Qatar later this year, having produced sticker albums for the competition since 1970.
But fans were not happy with the decision to replace them as Euros sticker partners, taking to Twitter to vent their frustration with the move.
