Miguel Leyva and Marino de Luanco Image Rights Row

Why this struck a nerve

Football lives on images as much as highlights.

• Players build personal brands through photos shared to large audiences.
• Photographers rely on visible credit to turn matchday work into future jobs.
• Social media rewards speed and reach, not always proper attribution.

The report says the photograph was taken during Marino de Luanco’s game against SD Sarriana in November, and that the revised post now includes both the watermark and credit. That matters because, in modern football culture, a tagged image is not a small courtesy. It is often the only public proof of authorship many freelancers get.

A wider issue in the game

This is not really about one repost. It is about a grey area many inside football still appear to misunderstand.

• Being in a photo does not automatically mean owning it.
• Removing a watermark changes more than presentation; it strips away authorship.
• AI tools have made that process easier, which raises the stakes for creators.

For clubs, players and agents, the lesson is simple: ask first, post second. A quick message can avoid a public dispute and protect relationships that matter across a season.

What comes next

The immediate row may cool now that the image has reportedly been reposted with credit, but the debate will not disappear. As players continue to grow their online reach, the next storyline to watch is whether clubs start giving clearer guidance on content use, copyright and how to respect the people who document the game every week.