UK competition watchdog says JD Sports needs to sell Footasylum

Britain's antitrust regulator on Thursday directed the country's biggest sportswear retailer JD Sports Fashion Plc to sell Footasylum, after a detailed probe found that the takeover could lead to "a substantial reduction in competition".

In a separate statement, JD Sports responded to the ruling saying that the decision to prohibit the acquisition "defies logic", adding that it was studying the report in detail before considering further options.