March 28 – More than 130 Palestinian football clubs and sports associations have called on German sportswear manufacturer Adidas to end its sponsorship of the Israel Football Association (IFA) over the thorny issue of Israeli league clubs based in settlements in the occupied West Bank.
In a letter addressed to Adidas CEO Kasper Rørsted, the Palestinian clubs cautioned that as “the main international sponsor of the IFA, Adidas is lending its brand to cover up and whitewash Israel’s human rights abuses” and give “international cover to Israel’s illegal settlements.”
The clubs warn that the company’s continued support of Israel “may expose it to consumer-led boycott campaigns in the Arab world and globally.”
Among the clubs signing the letter are the Jenin Athletic Club, the oldest Palestinian club in the West Bank, founded in 1940, as well as former Premier League champs Shabab Al-Khalil and top clubs Tulkarem and Shabab Alsamu.
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