JOHANNESBURG (AP) — A South African court says the stadium famously known as Soccer City for the World Cup must revert to its old name.
South Africa’s Supreme Court of Appeal ruled Wednesday that South Africa’s First National Bank’s pre-World Cup naming deal stands.
The stadium was almost completely rebuilt for the World Cup, and hosted the opening and final games. FNB was a World Cup sponsor, but FIFA rules do not allow sponsor’s names to be associated with stadiums during the World Cup.
As FNB Stadium, the venue hosted major political and sporting events. Nelson Mandela held his first mass rally at the stadium on his return to Soweto following his release from prison in 1990.
