The ad shows a locker room filled with shirts in preparation for a football match. However, every shirt says "Ferdinand" with the number 6. The strapline says: "Who do you think spends this much on defence every season?"
Manchester United signed Ferdinand earlier this year in a record-making 拢29.5m deal, making him the most expensive defender in the UK.
According to a report in the Daily Mirror, Ferdinand and Manchester United are unhappy that his name has been connected with BAE Systems, which boasts in the ad that it spent 拢4bn on research and development on defence interests.
However, because Ferdinand has not registered his name and number as a trademark, the company is not breaching copyright and therefore did not legally require permission to use the image. The paper said that Ferdinand had consulted lawyers over the ad, but that it is understood no action will be taken.
The ads appeared in national newspapers last week. BAE Systems retains the advertising agency Marten Gibbon Associates.
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