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- Adidas deal reportedly worth UK£10.8m per year to Russian Football Union
- Fifa banned Russia from international soccer matches on 28th February
- Nike also suspends business operations in Russia
German sportswear brand Adidas has suspended its long-term partnership with the Football Union of Russia (FUR) as western brands continue to pull out of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
An official statement on 1st March read: ’Adidas is suspending its partnership with the Russian Football Union (RFU) with immediate effect.’
Adidas has been the kit supplier of all Russian men’s and women’s national teams since 2009. The most recent contract, which was signed in 2018 and expires at the end of 2022, is worth a reported UK£10.8 million (US$14.4 million) per year.
In 2020, Adidas generated sales of €584 million (US$651 million) in Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States, equivalent to 2.9 per cent of its total revenue. The company will report its 2021 earnings on 9th March.
Other overseas brands holding deals with the FUR include both German automaker Volkswagen and drinks giant Coca-Cola.
Volkswagen, which has a deal with Russian soccer’s national governing body running until the end of 2023, has already paused the delivery of cars to Russia.
Nike, Adidas’ great rival in the sportswear sector, has also confirmed the suspension its business operations in Russia, making merchandise unavailable to purchase in the country through its website and app.
The exit of the two brands came after Fifa and Uefa announced that Russian teams would be suspended from all international soccer matches.
