Fancy a punt on 'man of the match'?

It is a phrase that has become synonymous with football, but soon Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer et al may have to pay for the privilege of nominating a 'man of the match'.

The Telegraph reports that OFS Group, an intellectual property firm which registered the trademark for the phrase in 2002, is selling the rights. A number of bookmaking and beer giant, including Ladbrokes and Carlsberg, have already expressed an interest, which, as well as the phrase itself, includes the rights to motm.com. OFS has already made a return on the trademark by licensing it for use on packets of KP Peanuts and McCoy's crisps. "It's a phrase that is used all the time and the buyer will have the opportunity to charge for that use," said Metis chief executive Stephen Rober...