Lingerie Football League threatens to sue Oz rivals over structure

Melbourne, June 7 (ANI): The US-based Lingerie Football League has threatened to take legal action against the Ladies Football League Australia set up by an Ipswich woman.

Lingerie Football League chairman Mitchell Mortaza said the Australian league, established by Ipswich's Tala Schultz in 2011, had allegedly capitalised on the profile of Lingerie Football League.

The Australian competition has already attracted sponsors and held an exhibition game in Brisbane.

The Ipswich-based founder of the Ladies Football League has played down the effect of the US-based Lingerie Football League moving in on her turf.

Founder of the Ladies Football League, Tala Schultz will be forced to watch the first match on Friday from the commentators box after a serious injury.

Mortaza claimed the Australian competition was too closely aligned with the Lingerie Football League concept. He said the Australian league should cease to operate under their current structure.We're currently looking at legal action," the Courier Mail quoted him as saying.

Schultz said she had clearly distinguished between the two brands when communicating with potential advertisers or recruiting players.

"I've never depicted us as being them," she said.

"I don't want to be them, in fact it is to our disadvantage," she said.

She said the Ladies Football League Australia was a non-profit organisation focussed on promoting the sport of gridiron in Australia and fitness and health.

Mortaza said he took incredible pride in the brand as the Lingerie Football League seeks to secure a foothold in Australia.

An exhibition game was played in Brisbane last Saturday and another is scheduled for Sydney on June 9.

Schultz said she was pursuing discussions with the Lingerie Football League to establish clarity surrounding trademark and copyright.

"I think it's a round table thing. I want to talk to marketing and promotion to understand their point of view," she added. (ANI)