Adidas is taking flak from some German football players who are refusing to wear the boots of their sponsor. In nearly all other countries players have the right to choose the brand of their footwear when they play for the national team, regardless of their sponsor, but in Germany the national players are under the obligation to wear Adidas on their chests as well as their feet.
At a meeting earlier this month with the leaders of the German football association (DFB), a four-strong delegation of players complained that this was causing damage to their feet, because many of them wear other boots while playing with their clubs.
Among the delegation was the striker Miroslav Klose, who scored highly for Germany in Adidas boots at the World Cup, but otherwise wears Nike. His concerns were echoed by goal-keeper Jens Lehmann, who wears Nike between the sticks at Arsenal. They insisted that their demand was motivated by health reasons rather than financial motives – after all, a football player’s feet are his most precious asset.
At a meeting before Germany’s qualification game for the 2008 European Championships against Sweden earlier this month, the players and DFB leaders agreed that all players would wear Adidas for that game, but that the discussion would be reopened before the next game against the Republic of Ireland, to be played this Saturday. Adidas declined to comment, indicating that it was holding talks with the DFB on the matter.
