Row over mini 'hooligan' models

The firm is negotiating with the FA over its Little Hooliganz range

A Kent company director has stopped selling model "hooligans" after being accused of glamorising soccer violence.

Premier League bosses acted after they were alerted to the three-inch-high figurines clad in club colours with names such as Dangerous Dirk.

Nigel Warson-Hill, of Blighty Collectables, said the company satirised hooliganism and did not intend to incite or encourage fighting.

The league also said the firm had broken copyright by using club logos.

Now, Blighty Collectables has suspended sales while it negotiates with the league over copyright issues.

The plastic models, called Little Hooliganz, were priced at £4.99 and decorated with Premiership club shirts.

The characters include a Liverpool hooligan called Slaphead Nick, Dangerous Dirk, who wears Chelsea colours, and Aard Man Aaron, who sports a Newcastle United top.

Chris Evans, another of the firm's directors, said a letter from a Premier League solicitor accused them of glamorising hooliganism.

But he said: "We feel we satirise hooliganism and we do not intend to incite or encourage violence."

The letter also demanded that all stock must be destroyed and the company website taken down by 8 September because of copyright infringement.

Mr Warson-Hill added: "We have replied to the letter they've (the Premier League) sent us saying we're happy to change our designs and hopefully we can reach some sort of compromise.

'Sales suspended'

"As a courtesy to the FA we have suspended all sales and if we have to change the designs, we'll wait for the new designs to be produced."

A Premier League spokesman added: "The Premier League logo, club and player images are all under copyright."

It stated the firm had not approached the Premier League about the use of the material.

"We drew to his attention that he was likely to be in breach of copyright."