Zwanziger on German kit supplier debate: 'hypocrisy' always involved
Former German Football Federation (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger has named the planned national teams kit supplier change from Adidas to Nike a decision without an alternative.
"I can understand every fan who is outraged. But the DFB had no choice, economically and legally," Zwanziger told Die Zeit weekly in an interview published on Tuesday.
Zwanziger said that American sports goods makers Nike had already offered five times more than Adidas during his reign atop the DFB 2006-2012 but the decades-old deal with Germany-based Adidas was continued.
"We agreed although we could have generated much more with Nike. Adidas was difficult to question at the time at the DFB," Zwanziger said.
"There has always been hypocrisy involved in the discussion about the value of tradition."
The DFB announced on Thursday that it would end the long partnership with Adidas, with Nike taking over in 2027 on a contract until 2034.
No figures were given but German business newspaper Handelsblatt, citing industry sources, said Nike will pay the cash-strapped DFB more than €100 million ($108 million) per year, double the €50 million a year the Adidas deal is reportedly worth.
DFB officials have defended the deal against criticism from several German politicians, and Zwanziger also dismissed the criticism.
"Politicians comment on decisions made by an independent association whose economic and legal necessity they are unable to assess," Zwanziger said.
