According to The Guardian, England’s top players, such as Foden and Stones, are missing from the official sticker album for the 2024 UEFA European Championship due to commercial copyright reasons.
US trading card company Topps, which outbid Panini in 2022 for the exclusive rights to produce the UEFA Euro 2024 sticker album, is now in a complicated situation. As reported by The Times, although Topps holds the tournament rights, Panini retains certain team-related copyrights, meaning five teams, including England, remain under Panini’s control. Additionally, Panini has individual player contracts, leaving Topps to fill the roster with other players. For instance, Luke Thomas, who has never been called up to the England squad, features in the England section.
Panini has been the official partner for the Euros since 1977, producing the tournament’s sticker albums until now. In 2022, Topps was acquired by the memorabilia company Fanatics for nearly $500 million. A Fanatics spokesperson criticized Panini, stating, “While we are disappointed by the absence of a few players due to the previous album partner blocking certain rights, this negatively impacts fans. Unlike the previous partner, we are committed to creating albums and cards that feature both current stars and legends, making them appealing to collectors.”