Following the suspension of Russia’s national teams and the country’s clubs by FIFA and UEFA, global sports brand Adidas severed ties with the Russian Football Union amid the invasion of Ukraine.
Adidas suspends partnership with Russian football over invasion of Ukraine (AFP Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Adidas has long been a partner of the Russian Football Union
- The global sports brand’s decision comes amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine
- Eerlier, FIFA and UEFA suspended Russia and Russian clubs
In another blow to Russian football, global sports brand Adidas said on Tuesday it was suspending its partnership with the Russian Football Union following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Adidas is suspending its partnership with the Russian Football Union (RFS) with immediate effect,” an Adidas spokesman was quoted as saying by beIN Sports.
The German sportswear maker has long been associated with Russian football but has now joined the majority of the global sports community in scolding the country after invading Ukraine.
Specifically, the Global Football Association FIFA and the European association UEFA suspended Russia national football teams and the country’s clubs banned from all competitions until further notice.
“Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all affected people in Ukraine,” FIFA and UEFA said in a joint statement.
“Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and quickly so that football can again be a vector of unity and peace between people.”
UEFA also ended its sponsorship with Russian energy giant Gazprom.
Spartak MoscowRussia’s only club still in the Europa League will no longer compete in European competition.
Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee also recommended the suspension of Russian and Belarusian athletes from major international competitions and condemned their invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier on Tuesday, the German coach of Europa League football club Lokomotiv Moscow stopped blaming Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. Markus Gisdol said he was forced to act because he witnessed what was happening in Ukraine.
“I can’t stand on the training ground in Moscow, train the players, demand professionalism and give orders a few kilometers away that cause great suffering to a whole people. It’s my personal decision and I absolutely believe in it,” he said, as quoted by Reuters.
