In a forensic review, Scott “Matchmaker” Michaels — football IP commentator, founder of Football Is For The Fans CIC, and leader of the fan-ownership New York Cosmos revival — has outlined what he believes to be a billion-pound vulnerability inside British football: significant trademark gaps at some of the country’s most historic clubs, putting their names, heritage, and community assets at theoretical risk.
According to Michaels, whose Wefunder campaign for a fan-owned Cosmos was suspended following legal challenges — and who states that he was targeted by a private investigator engaged by Dentons acting for billionaire Rocco Commisso — trademark protection for UK clubs is patchy and in some cases absent in critical classes.
In Michaels’ opinion, the following clubs are potentially exposed based on publicly available trademark records checked in June 2025:
Wycombe Wanderers
Burton Albion
Cheltenham Town
Dundee United
Aberdeen
Fleetwood Town
Shrewsbury Town
Accrington
Carlisle United
Birmingham City
Coventry City
Queens Park Rangers
Charlton Athletic
Southampton FC
Sheffield Wednesday
Ipswich Town
Stockport County
Luton Town
Millwall FC
Middlesbrough FC
Leicester City FC
Aston Villa
Manchester United
Tottenham
Chelsea
Reading FC
Plymouth Argyle
Gillingham
Grimsby Town
Doncaster Rovers
Port Vale
Michaels estimates the commercial value of these club identities exceeds £3 billion, but he believes years of incomplete registrations leave fan heritage vulnerable to opportunists or counterfeiting.
“In my view, this is corporate negligence,” Michaels states. “They lock heritage away, do not use their marks properly, then demand more money from fans. Football is supposed to belong to the people — not be left to rot in a legal vault.”
Michaels, who says he has filed over 30 trademark claims and cancellation petitions in the UK, US, and EU to protect authentic, fan-led projects, confirms he has sent formal notice to Dentons and to Rocco Commisso. Commisso — who recently lost a lawsuit against the US Soccer Federation — may, in Michaels’ opinion, face further legal exposure if he continues to warehouse the Cosmos name rather than use it for the benefit of the public.
“If you don’t use trademarks in good faith, you risk losing them,” Michaels adds. “Fans will find a way to reclaim their culture. That’s what I’m fighting for.”
According to industry estimates, counterfeiting in sports merchandise costs the sector over £400 million a year, meaning these unprotected brands could be prime targets if left unresolved.
Michaels is now encouraging clubs to review their IP frameworks immediately:
“If you’re a club executive reading this, treat this as a professional warning. Fix it now — because once fans discover these gaps, they will act, and I will stand with them,” Michaels concludes.
Despite the Wefunder shutdown and legal threats, Michaels is defiant:
“We don’t need Wefunder or any other platform that can be silenced. We will run our own fan funding on our own platform, and no one can shut that down. The people will decide — not the billionaires.”
ABOUT SCOTT “MATCHMAKER” MICHAELS
Scott Michaels is a former football agent, brand entrepreneur, and founder of Football Is For The Fans CIC, a community interest company dedicated to empowering supporters, managers, and players left behind by corporate football. He leads efforts to revive the New York Cosmos and build a fan-owned global football movement.
For interviews, analysis, or club consultancy on IP protection: scott@footballisforthefans.com
