Mexico have lost the legal rights to use the ‘El Tri’ nickname after they lost a court battle with Alex Lora, the founder of the Spanish rock band with the same name. The Mexican national team will now have to continue without the name legally, which means it won’t be used in their official pages, merchandise or in any formal referrals.
But, fans could use the term as they please to refer to the national team. Lora has said that the victory is not only for the band but also for Spanish rock as a whole.
Mexico lose ‘El Tri’ nickname after unsuccessful legal battle
El Tri was founded in 1968, and has since become one of the pioneers of the Spanish rock genre. They are renowned for their simple, but effective lyricism and their energetic stage presence when performing live.
Alex Lora himself is one of the most popular names in Spanish rock, known for his vocal capabilities and his distinguished image.
He registered the trademark for his band in 2014, and his legal action prevented the Mexican football board from using ‘El Tri’ in any marketing or promotional material. However, the board allegedly never used the term in their material and have now been legally banned from doing so.
The team could still go by El Tricolor, an expanded version of their former nickname. Mexico has won the Gold Cup 12 times, and is the most successful team in the CONCACAF.
