Nike made the decision not to supply its shoes to the players of the Iran national team for fear of sanctions, which generated all kinds of reactions

Leer en español: Conozca los detalles del conflicto entre Nike y la Selección de Irán

The American sports brand Nike decided not to supply its shoes to the players of the Iran national soccer team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. This fact originated after U.S. president Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw his country from the nuclear agreement. It is worth mentioning that this agreement had been signed in 2015. However, now Trump's government restored all the suspensions that had been imposed on Tehran, according to SDPNoticias, which generated the discontent of the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran.Here are the reasons that led Nike to make the decision and the arguments used by the Iranians to resolve the situation.

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What did Nike say to refer to the decision it made?

"U.S. sanctions mean that, as a U.S. company, Nike cannot supply shoes to players in the Iranian national team at this time," the company said in a statement. For its part, a spokesman for the company told AFP that the sanctions applicable to Iran have been in order for years and are written in the law.

The vice president of Nike, Bert Hoyt, added that they are not authorized to deliver their products to members of the Asian team. Although, Hoyt clarified that if an Iranian soccer player wants to have those shoes, and decides to buy them, he could use them without any problem.

However, according to the television channel Telesur, the Iranian player Saman Ghoddos, would be forced along with several of his teammates to use another brand of shoes during the soccer event.

What are the visions of the Iranians facing the issue?

In recorded statements, Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz told PressTV that it is necessary for FIFA to help them to solve the problem. "Players get used to their sports equipment and it's not right to change them a week before such important matches," added the coach of Iran.

According to ESPN Deportes, Queiroz said that this decision gives the players a handicap, as they are accustomed to wearing Nike shoes. The strategist added that the American company should offer its apologies because it is an arrogant attitude toward the Iranian team.

This situation forced several players to buy their sports shoes in sports houses and to ask for help from their colleagues to overcome the situation. According to the Expansión MX website, the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran sent a letter to the FIFA asking for an explanation, but there has been no response. In addition, the Iranian citizens were unable to purchase the jersey of their national team, as the garment is not for sale in stores.

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How were the relations between Nike and Iran?

For three years, Nike was responsible for providing footwear to the players of the Iran national soccer team by means of the relationship that had been sustained. A relationship that allowed them to have their own equipment, their own embroidered with the national emblem, as well as the names and numbers of the players.

However, following the re-establishment of the sanctions imposed on Tehran, U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Sigal Mandelker accused Iran of deceiving western organizations. Also, Mandelker said they "will hold those doing prohibited business in Iran to account," according to HispanTV.

However, since January 2016, the U.S. administration has given authorizations to national companies so that they can seal trade agreements with Iranian entities, so there has not been a definite line and a very changeable one in the matter.

Reactions of former players

The former player of the Iranian cast, Mehdi Mahdavikia, said in statements collected by El Diario NY, that the World Cup is a place where nations come together. Likewise, Mahdavikia indicated that it is illogical to take such measures that affect notoriously the players of his country or of any other nation.

Around 60% of the players who will be in the World Cup in Russia will have the possibility of using Nike shoes, said the newspaper El Confidencial. This shows that this is an event in which football is mixed with politics.

Data

• Iran integrates Group B with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco
• The United States faced Iran in the 1998 World Cup in France and the Iranian team defeated the U.S. team 2-1
• The Iranians started a campaign on social media with the label #NoToNike
• In May, the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran suspended relations with the Greeks for political and cultural reasons
   

Latin American Post | Daniel Cuevas

Translated from "Conozca los detalles del conflicto entre Nike y la Selección de Irán"