2024-03-22 05:45:47
The German national soccer teams will play in Nike instead of Adidas from 2027. Fans are angry – and the DFB has now commented in detail again.
The German Football Association has defended its future supplier change from long-time partner Adidas to Nike despite emerging criticism. “We understand every emotionality. It is also a drastic event for us as an association when it becomes clear that a partnership that was and is characterized by many special moments is coming to an end after more than 70 years. That doesn’t leave us unmoved,” wrote the DFB on X, formerly Twitter.
However, the DFB is “first and foremost committed to German football and its development,” it continued, justifying the decision with economic considerations: “The DFB has a unique selling point: It is a sports association that finances its member associations and the base in the amateur sector “It’s not financed by them. He puts the money into football. So that football remains a popular sport.”
Partnership of over 70 years ends
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck had previously criticized the change in supplier. “I can hardly imagine the German jersey without the three stripes. For me, Adidas and black-red-gold always belonged together. A piece of German identity. I would have liked a bit more local patriotism,” said Habeck (read more about this here).
On Thursday, the DFB announced that the US sporting goods manufacturer Nike will equip all German national teams from 2027. This marks the end of a partnership with Adidas that has lasted more than 70 years. Adidas was the supplier for all four World Cup titles and all three European Championship titles for men as well as for the two World Cup titles and the eight European Championship trophies for women. The collaboration with Nike is initially scheduled to run until 2034.