M.I.A Is In A Dispute With A French Football Club After Using Their Kit In A Video

M.I.A has defended her decision to wear the kit, claiming it was in support for victims of the Paris terror attacks in November.

UK rapper and singer M.I.A, has tweeted a copy of a letter sent to her management by French football club Paris Saint-Germain. The letter centres around M.I.A's decision to wear a PSG shirt in the video for her 2015 single "Borders".

M.I.A @MIAuniverse

10:29 AM - 11 Jan 2016

PSG claim that by wearing the jersey, on which the sponsor's name has been changed from (Dubai-based airline) "Fly Emirates" to "Fly Pirates", M.I.A has acted with "economic prejudice" and "image prejudice" towards the club.

M.I.A / YouTube / Via youtube.com

"By causing us an image prejudice, you have unduly taken advantage from the considerable reputation of our club," reads the letter.

"Your actions are thus the source of both an economic prejudice and an image prejudice for which you may be held liable under Article 1382 of the French civil code."

The club requested that M.I.A "cease the broadcast of images on any media which show the Paris Saint-Germain jersey" within 24 hours of the letter being received.

youtube.com

But with the letter clearly stamped as being received on 21 December 2015, their request has not been met by M.I.A or her management.

The letter ends with the suggestion that PSG could pursue legal action against M.I.A in the event that their request isn't met:

"We reserve the right to seek all remedies available to law to compensate the prejudice already suffered and that to come, and we reserve the right to start any procedure, including judicial ones, if needs be, to protect our interests."

But M.I.A claims her decision to wear the shirt in the video for "Borders" was in support of those affected by terror attacks in Paris on Friday 13 November.

M.I.A @MIAuniverse

BORDERS came out the day of Paris Memorial Day ceremony for victims of Paris attack. Having an Eiffel Tower on my tee was support I thought

01:02 PM - 11 Jan 2016

The video and lyrics for the song focus around the plight of refugees crossing borders, with the video featuring imagery of actors scaling tall metal fences and facing a journey through land and sea.

M.I.A has today been retweeting a number of messages in support of her decision to wear the jersey.

queen Rih @GagaARTPOP14

@MusicsRebellion @MIAuniverse EXPOSE PSG THIS IS DISGUSTING

12:48 PM - 11 Jan 2016

Still a hoe tbh @ashAbraith

"Compensate us for the harm we have suffered" What the fuck do they know about suffering? The refugees are suffering https://t.co/NIDl7pby13

12:34 PM - 11 Jan 2016

Simon @simonrchd

@MIAuniverse I'm parisian and I'm 100% behind u

12:23 PM - 11 Jan 2016

B• @soybeatrix

why don't they support the message behind the video when they're such a goodhearted sports club thou? https://t.co/vizLmNSSXu

12:18 PM - 11 Jan 2016

At the time of writing, PSG have not publicly commented on M.I.A tweeting a copy of their letter to her management.