Sports equipment sector: anti-competitive practices
The CMA investigated a suspected breach of competition law in the sports equipment sector under Chapter I of CA98 and Article 101 of TFEU.
Case reference: 50230
Case timetable
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| 20 January 2020 | Court of Appeal judgment |
| 7 September 2018 | CAT ruling rejecting appeal of the online sales ban |
| 21 December 2017 | Non-confidential infringement decision published |
| 24 August 2017 | Infringement decision issued |
| November 2016 to August 2017 | Considering written representations on the statement of objections, further evidence gathering and analysis, issue of letters of facts, receipt and consideration of representations on letters of facts, decision on case outcome, preparation of decision. |
| September to October 2016 (estimate) | Receipt of written and oral representations on the statement of objections |
| August 2016 | Statement of objections re-issued |
| June 2016 | Statement of objections issued |
| November 2015 to June 2016 | Initial investigation: information gathering, including issuance of formal or informal information requests and parties’ responses. CMA analysis and review of parties’ responses to information requests. Decision taken to issue statement of objections. |
| November 2015 | Investigation opened |
Court of Appeal judgment
20 January 2020: The Court of Appeal rejected a further appeal brought by the party against the Competition Appeal Tribunal judgment.
- Press release Court of Appeal upholds CMA decision on online sales (20.1.20)
Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling
7 September 2018: The Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) rejected an appeal of the online sales ban in the golf equipment sector decision brought by the party.
- Press release: Win in Ping golf clubs case sends clear online retail signal (7.9.18)
Non-confidential infringement decision
21 December 2017: The CMA has published a non-confidential version of the decision in this case, in which Ping Europe Limited (Ping) was fined £1.45 million for breaking competition law.
- (21.12.17)
Infringement decision
24 August 2017: The CMA issued an infringement decision to Ping Europe Limited (Ping). The CMA found that Ping has been operating an online sales ban, which is not objectively justified, thereby infringing the Chapter I prohibition of the Competition Act 1998 (CA98) and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). The CMA imposed a financial penalty of £1.45 million on Ping and directed that it brings the online sales ban to an end, and must not impose the same or equivalent terms on other retailers.
- Press release: CMA fines Ping £1.45m for online sales ban on golf clubs (24.8.17)
Statement of objections
9 June 2016: The CMA has alleged that Ping has breached UK and EU competition law by operating an online sales ban.
- Press release: CMA alleges breach of competition law by Ping (9.6.16)
Notes
The investigation is under Chapter I of the Competition Act 1998 and Article 101 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.
Further detail of the CMA’s procedures in Competition Act 1998 cases is available here: CMA’s procedures in Competition Act cases.
Contacts
Assistant project director
April Carr (0203 738 6204, april.carr@cma.gov.uk)
Project director
Sue Aspinall (0203 738 6788, sue.aspinall@cma.gov.uk)
Senior responsible officer
Ann Pope (0203 738 6786, ann.pope@cma.gov.uk)
Updates to this page
Last updated 7 September 2018 + show all updates
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Competition Appeal Tribunal ruling announced.
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Non-confidential infringement decision published.
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Infringement decision issued.
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Timetable updated.
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Timetable updated.
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Statement of objections issued and timetable updated.
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Timetable updated.
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First published.