Proactive Investors - JD Sports Fashion PLC (LON:JD) will not be fined after co-operating with a competition probe into suspected breaches of competition law.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority launched an investigation in 2021 into suspected breaches of the law by Leicester City Football Club and JD Sports.
Both firms admitted breaking competition law by limiting competition in the sales of Leicester City-branded clothing, including replica kit, in the UK.
Michael Grenfell, executive director of enforcement at the CMA, said: "In this case we have provisionally found that Leicester City FC and JD Sports colluded to share out markets and fix prices - with the result that fans may have ended up paying more than they would otherwise have done."
Leicester City, which has just been relegated from the Premier League, has been fined £880,000 for its part but JD said by bringing the matter to the CMA's attention it was able to approach the CMA for leniency.
JD and the CMA subsequently signed a leniency agreement on June 30, under which the CMA has granted JD full immunity from any fines.
JD will continue to maintain complete and continuous cooperation with the CMA until the conclusion of its investigation.
The sports retailer stressed no current or former directors or senior management were involved in the offending conduct, which took place in 2018-2021.