Erling Haaland battles a Polish electrician in a bizarre court case. © ANSA / JOSE COELHO

Bizarre: Why Haaland is suing an electrician

World-class striker Erling Haaland and an unnamed electrician from Poland will probably never meet in a European football stadium. Instead, they have been locked in a legal battle for years, which is currently being heard before the EU Court in Luxembourg.

09 October 2026

From: apa

The reason is a bizarre dispute over the rights to the name "Haaland", which the electrician registered with the European Union in 2023 as a trademark for sportswear, football boots and energy drinks.

Just a few days after the electrician's trademark registration, Haaland – Manchester City striker and multimillionaire – followed suit in Norway, extending the trademark registration to the EU. Because the electrician protested, Haaland learned that the trademark had already been registered – and in what context. The striker has already won two separate legal battles.

But his opponent is not giving up and filed a lawsuit with the EU court this summer, as reported by the Norwegian newspaper. VG Haaland's lawyers allege that the man maliciously intended to profit from the striker's famous name. According to the specialist website Transfermarkt, Haaland is valued at €220 million.