Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 13-06-2018
US Sports apparel company Nike says it has withdrawn its supply of boots to Iranian footballers ahead of this year’s World Cup due to the new US sanctions.
A statement from Nike on ESPN says the company was forbidden from supplying kits to the Iranian team as it prepares for its opening World Cup game.
“US sanctions mean that, as a US company, Nike cannot supply shoes to players in the Iranian National team at this time. Sanctions applicable to NIKE have been in place for many years and are enforceable by law.”
The ESPN report from Moscow says the Nike decision had left Iranian football officials baffled, noting that the US company had supplied the team at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil when similar sanctions were in effect.
Iran coach Carlos Queiroz expressed frustration at the decision.
“Players get used to their sports equipment, and it’s not right to change them a week before such important matches.”
Last month US President Donald Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.
Trump vowed to re-impose economic sanctions that were waived when the deal was signed in 2015.
The ESPN report says Iran’s players had responded to the decision by asking non-Iranian players on their club teams to loan them boots, while others had bought their own from stores.
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