Germany's DFB Slammed For Rejecting Nike Deal

The DFB, German soccer's governing body, has been widely criticised for rejecting a 500 million (US$682.4 million) deal with Nike, the sports equipment manufacturer, to remain with long-standing partner Adidas until 2018.

The national association announced today that it had agreed a deal with Adidas worth 20 million (US$27.2 million) a year, plus 5 million (US$6.8 million) a year in youth development and grass roots soccer funding, ending a long-running dispute between the two parties over the length of the contract.

However, the DFB's decision has been described as a missed opportunity by not only Nike, but also the German Football League (DFL) and several of its member clubs, after the DFB elected to reject an offer worth around three times that proposed by Adidas.

In January, Nike had attempted to break up Adidas' long-standing association with the DFB by offering the federation a 62.5 million (US$85 million) a year, eight-year deal from 2011 to 2018.

Adidas' existing contract was worth 10 million (US$13.6 million) to 11 million (US$15 million) a year, a sum it will continue to pay until 2011 when the new contract kicks in.

Hubertus Hoyt, the head of Nike Germany, described the DFB's choice as "the biggest loss in the history of German football, no matter how the decision was arrived at and who holds the responsibility for it".

I can't imagine seeing the German team playing in a kit other than Adidas. The Germans have been loyal to Adidas in all their sports I think, even their hockey team plays in Adidas kits. If Adidas loses German to Nike, then they would be left without a major team using their kits (well, maybe Argentina). Nike is out to conquer the known sports world, this is no secret to anybody. If they manage to capture German, then it's a big boost to them.

Adidas is German, of course the German team should use Adidas (or Puma...). Adidas still has Spain and France.

Nike has better team sponsorships but Adidas has better player sponsorships.

I missed Italy with either lotto or Kappa.

Adi Dassler is Germany,he make a lot history in football,i think he is the first one made a boot with stud,correct me if i m wrong
i think Germany will stay with Adidas forever

Nike is like Microsoft..bloody capitalist pigs...

i love adidas and hated nike

nike = uber-expensive shoes that open-mouth in 3 month

adidas = quality shoes that worth its price

btw i think Adidas is better than Nike in football,maybe bcos UEFA dan FIFA never use Nike ball for EURO and WC
Adidas is made for football while Nike is made for basketball

They pioneered some of stuffs related to football but i think Nike is getting better n better. But its a proven fact that Adidas's products are better in terms of quality

This post has been edited by black^demon: Oct 1 2007, 11:19 PM

Back in 1990, even 1994 World Cup, there was no sponsor logo on Italy's shirt. Always wonder which company sponsored their kits. Only recently sponsor logos have appeared on their shirts. Maybe there was some policy or something.

All football boots has studs, Adi Dassler came up with the idea of longer studs that can be screwed in, thus creating the screw in 6 studs boots. Together with the Copa Mundial, Germany won the 1974 world cup largely thanks to the screw in studs as the pitch was soft and the Germans have more grip on the ground while playing.

They deserve their success. If you can make something no one else can, you have the right to call the shots.

My past 3 Nike futsal shoes all buaya in under a year but i still continue buying them cause they are nicer... My next futsal shoe will definitely be Adidas though. I try to support Adidas anyway because they sponsor Madrid.

If I'm not wrong the jerseys are from Kappa.
But regarding sponsors logo on jersey, don't really know the history.
Btw, I think it's kappa which came out with the "tight Fit" jersey type.....

back to the issue of Nike. Agreed that Nike is somewhat starting to go off like Microsoft.
I would say for the amount of money to fork out for a normal pairs of basketball shoes or sneakers, I can get better ones in other brands.
I used to love Nike's basketball shoes, but over the years you see no innovations and I would say that designs had also getting worst by the years. But price wise is getting more expensive...

*sigh*

Kappa? dont think so. it was Nike, but for one reason or another, they didn't have the swoosh mark on their shirts. WC 1994, me thinks.

Always liked Kappa kits for their design, but it wasn't all tight fit mind you. the first ones they came out for Italy were like any other.

Nike v Adidas? Capitalists? Business mah, all in the name of making money. If not, who wanna do?

i agree with you, i never buy nike products.

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Added on October 5, 2007, 10:16 pmi think, nike is the real loser la.


This post has been edited by wk_wong: Oct 5 2007, 10:16 PM

Germany's hockey team uses Puma. But still a german brand... and the founder of Puma is Rudolf Hassler, the younger brother of Adi Dassler... the founder of adidas.

hahahaha what a waste but oh well adidas is german company so the german will surely stay faitful with their local company just like our potong cars

Most importantly, Adidas has Real Madrid, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Bayern Munich and maybe Chelsea.

Loved Adidas football ads compared to Nike.

inter milan NIKE la kawan n chelsea is confirmed ADIDIAS