June 11 – Adidas has announced it is starting legal proceeding against the Spanish FA (RFEF) for seeking early termination of their kit partnership that runs through to 2026.
In 2015, Adidas and the RFEF signed a reported €18 million a year extension that would start in 2019 and run through to 2026.
In May the RFEF said in a statement: “The conditions that were agreed upon when it was signed years ago do not meet the criteria of legality, transparency and fairness that the RFEF considers minimally acceptable.”
The Spanish governing body also highlighted “‘months of unsuccessful conversations with Adidas and the impossibility of an understanding [between the two].”
In announcing that it had begun legal prceedings, Adidas said: “In 2015, Adidas and the RFEF signed an extension of the current contract, expanding its duration from 2019 to 2026. This is a binding agreement that does not include an exit clause for any of the parties. Adidas has always acted in good faith and would like to continue the successful support given to the RFEF and to Spanish soccer.
“Unfortunately due to the recent actions taken by RFEF and to preserve the legitimate interests of the brand with the three stripes, Adidas is forced to take legal action to ensure that the RFEF complies with the established contract until the end of the agreed period.”
Adidas has been providing Spain’s kit since 1992, but Rubiales wants the deal to reflect market rates. Spain lags behind Europe’s other big nations – England, Germany, France, and Italy – who are generally getting €30-40 million annually. (Nike’s deal with England is estimated £33.33 million annually).
Reports were that Rubiales had contacted Inditex, whose brands include Zara and Pull & Bear, as a potential successor to Adidas. Talks are also understood to have taken place with Puma.
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