Sport Nike instead of Adidas
Supplier debate – Habeck open to talks with DFB President Neuendorf
As of: 3:45 p.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
Adidas and the DFB look back on a long history. From 2027, Nike will be the new supplier – not everyone likes that
Quelle: AFP/KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV
The DFB deal with Nike continues to cause discussions. There could now even be a direct exchange between Economics Minister Robert Habeck and association president Bernd Neuendorf.
Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck has shown himself open to a conversation with DFB President Bernd Neuendorf about the association’s Nike deal. “First of all, big congratulations on the national team’s victory yesterday. Joy of playing, commitment and passion – I’m looking forward to the European Championships,” the Green politician told the German Press Agency on Sunday after the DFB team’s 2-0 win the evening before in France. “And of course, we always like to talk – then maybe also about sport, tradition and capital and also about promoting youth sports.”
On Saturday evening, Neuendorf offered a conversation about the background in response to Habeck’s criticism of the DFB’s change of supplier from Adidas to the US sporting goods giant Nike. Habeck said about the Nike deal from 2027 that he would have “wanted a bit more local patriotism” from the DFB.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf does not understand the criticism of the supplier deal
Those: dpa/Federico Gambarini
Adidas has its headquarters in Herzogenaurach. The top DFB officials clearly rejected Habeck’s criticism and that of other politicians. Neuendorf said the statements left him “a little bit stunned.”
“Normal process”
The DFB announced on Thursday that the contract with long-term partner Adidas would expire at the end of 2026 after more than 70 years. From 2027 until the end of 2034, Nike will equip the DFB and pay around 100 million euros per year. Adidas is said to have paid 50 million euros annually to the association so far. Nike’s offer was “far above” those of its competitors, said Neuendorf.
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That’s why one of Neuendorf’s predecessors can’t find anything objectionable in the association’s actions. Former DFB President Fritz Keller sees the German Football Association’s change of supplier from Adidas to US sporting goods giant Nike as “a completely normal process”. It was “a shame because Adidas was a great partner for decades,” said the 66-year-old on Sunday on Welt TV. “But now it’s Nike’s turn, and I know Nike as a very reliable partner.” Nike is also the supplier of SC Freiburg, of which Keller served as president for years.
