Terry fumes at use of image on Indian cigarette packets
CHELSEA and England captain John Terry has become embroiled in another legal row – this time over use of his image in Indian anti-smoking propaganda.
Terry is considering suing after what appears to be his likeness was given smoke-damaged lungs and plastered on packets of cigarettes (right) on the subcontinent.
The image resembling the 31-year-old defender appears on boxes of Gold Flake cigarettes and was approved for use by the Indian government.
A spokesman for Terry said: “It’s been brought to our attention that an image of our client has been used on some cigarette packaging without our consent or knowledge. We’ve now instructed our legal team to investigate this matter.”
The apparent unauthorised use of Terry’s image on tobacco packaging threatens to embarrass Indian government officials. KS Dhatwalia, of the Directorate of Visual Publicity, said: “We sent the creative to the health ministry and they then cleared it and circulated it. But how Terry’s picture got to be used is not clear.”
It comes as Terry fights an ongoing legal battle against claims he racially insulted QPR defender Anton Ferdinand in a Premier League fixture in October. He was charged with a racially aggravated public order offence last month and is due in court next month. He has strenuously denied the allegations.