Adidas & AS Roma Fix Stock Image Font Failure on 23-24 Home Kit
Update August 11: AS Roma's shirt number supplier have fixed the issue with the watermarked 23-24 home kit font. Big thanks to Subsidesports for the image of the correct font.
The new AS Roma font is the same as before but without the Alamy Stock Image Watermarks. Alamy also "stole" the image. Actually, it is a photograph of the famous map of Rome by Giovanni Battista Falda from 1676.
AS Roma Debut Printed Kits After Stock Image Kit Font Failure
AS Roma now also debuted their 2023-2024 home kit with names and numbers. In the first pre-season friendlies, they wore blank home shirts without any kit font.
Update July 26: AS Roma have stopped printing their Adidas 2023-2024 home kits following the dispute with the numbers featuring stock image watermarks. Instead, Roma played their first pre-season matches WITHOUT names and numbers.
All orders with names and numbers are delayed, possibly by "even more than 15 days". On Adidas' official website, it is not possible to buy a kit with the kit font.
Update July 12: On 10/11 July, Footy Headlines spotted that the new Roma 23-24 home kit numbers feature Alamy watermarks - now AS Roma are taking steps to remove the Alamy watermark from their new shirts' numbers, according to Il Tempo. The mistake would not have been made by the club or Adidas, but rather by a third-party supplier who mistakenly used the Falda map based on a photo from a photo archive database.
Meanwhile, Serie A football shirt collector @FutbolShIrTALIA has ordered two AS Roma 2023-2024 kits with namesets. His images confirm that the final numbers also feature the Alamy watermarks, even though they are subtle. It remains to be seen if buyers will get compensation.
The new AS Roma numbers feature a subtle graphic of ancient Rome. However, it is not a bespoke image.
AS Roma 23-24 Home Kit Numbers Feature Stock Image Graphic, Based on Famous 1676 Map of Giovanni Battista Falda
The image of the AS Roma 23-24 kit numbers is not custom-made, but instead based on a stock photo from Alamy.
The Alamy Stock image is a photograph of the famous map of Rome by Giovanni Battista Falda from 1676, which has been displayed in the Rijksmuseum. The watermarks on the stock image and the Roma numbers are in the exact same position, confirming the absurdity of the situation. A similar image is available on Wikipedia without watermarks.
At least, the a of the Alamy logo matches the a of AS Roma, but there is also a full Alamy logo visible.
The AS Roma 23-24 kit numbers cost you an extra 20 Euro. It remains to be seen if Roma will update the kit font.
Footy Headlines believe it was the club and not Adidas who used the stock photo.
Would you have expected Roma to use a stock image with watermarks for their 2023-2024 kit numbers? let us know in the comments below.
