They are two sportswear giants usually considered main rivals but Adidas has decided to follow in Nike’s footsteps and refuse to supply sporting gear to the Iranian national football team.
The German sports powerhouse provided jerseys to the Iran team at the 2018 World Cup, but has recently announced it is severing ties with Team Melli ahead of the AFC Asian Cup next year, RT reported.
Some reports suggest that a deal between the two had been made impossible amid US sanctions against Tehran.
“Adidas has notified the Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran that it will not extend the existing commercial agreement beyond the agreed term,” Adidas said in a statement.
Shortly before the FIFA World Cup began in Russia in early June, Nike announced that it would not provide cleats to players amid the Trump administration’s move to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal. However, the Portland-based brand later said the decision was down to pre-existing laws. Iran will now be forced to find a replacement jersey provider before the AFC Asian Cup in the UAE, January 5-February 1, 2019, where it has been drawn in Group D alongside Iraq, Yemen and Vietnam.
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