LONDON (AP) The English Football Association has rejected a bid by Hull City's owner to change the Premier League team's name to Hull Tigers.
Hull owner Assem Allam had claimed a name change will attract investors and boost the club's marketing appeal abroad. In January, the Egyptian businessman threatened to quit if his quest was turned down - but 63.5 percent of the FA Council did just that on Wednesday.
The decision came ahead of Hull visiting FA headquarters at Wembley on Sunday to contest the FA Cup semifinal against Sheffield United.
Allam has injected $125 million into the northeast England club since 2010, when Hull was in the second-tier League Championship and on the brink of financial ruin. The team looks set for a second consecutive season in the Premier League.
