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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Manchester United: Schweinsteiger may sue over Nazi dolls | Manchester United: Schweinsteiger may sue over Nazi dolls |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| Bastian Schweinsteiger is considering taking legal action against a Hong Kong company making Nazi dolls that bear a striking resemblance to him. | Bastian Schweinsteiger is considering taking legal action against a Hong Kong company making Nazi dolls that bear a striking resemblance to him. |
| The Manchester United midfielder's management company put the matter into the hands of their German-based lawyers earlier this week. | The Manchester United midfielder's management company put the matter into the hands of their German-based lawyers earlier this week. |
| The dolls, named 'World War II Army Supply Duty - Bastian', are made in China by Dragon in Dream. | The dolls, named 'World War II Army Supply Duty - Bastian', are made in China by Dragon in Dream. |
| The company told German paper Bild any resemblance was "purely coincidental". | The company told German paper Bild any resemblance was "purely coincidental". |
| "We don't sell any figures which resemble footballers. It is a complete coincidence that the figure 'Bastian' looks like Schweinsteiger," a spokesman added. | "We don't sell any figures which resemble footballers. It is a complete coincidence that the figure 'Bastian' looks like Schweinsteiger," a spokesman added. |
| "We thought that all Germans look like that. Bastian is also a very common name in Germany." | "We thought that all Germans look like that. Bastian is also a very common name in Germany." |
| The figurine comes in several outfits - including a version with a steel helmet, white winter jacket and woollen gloves, and another in a typical army uniform, complete with the "Wehrmachtsadler" insignia, an eagle with a swastika above the right breast pocket. | The figurine comes in several outfits - including a version with a steel helmet, white winter jacket and woollen gloves, and another in a typical army uniform, complete with the "Wehrmachtsadler" insignia, an eagle with a swastika above the right breast pocket. |
| The doll is on sale for about $120 (£80). | The doll is on sale for about $120 (£80). |
| "This is a clear violation of Schweinsteiger's personality rights," a German media lawyer told Bild. | "This is a clear violation of Schweinsteiger's personality rights," a German media lawyer told Bild. |
| "Everyone has rights to their own image. To see him as a swastika-bearing Wehrmacht soldier also constitutes a gross defamation and insult," Ulrich Amelung said. | "Everyone has rights to their own image. To see him as a swastika-bearing Wehrmacht soldier also constitutes a gross defamation and insult," Ulrich Amelung said. |
| German international midfielder Schweinsteiger, 31, joined United on a three-year deal in July, moving from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich for a reported £6.5m. | |
| He has made 15 appearances for Louis van Gaal's side so far this season, providing one assist. | He has made 15 appearances for Louis van Gaal's side so far this season, providing one assist. |