Soccer

Adidas cancel Suarez World Cup marketing but will not ditch player

German sportswear company fully support Fifa’s decision to ban striker

An Adidas advertisting board with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez is displayed in Rio de Janeiro. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
An Adidas advertisting board with Uruguay’s Luis Suarez is displayed in Rio de Janeiro. Photograph: Mike Egerton/PA
Thu Jun 26 2014 - 17:34

Adidas stopped short of ending its sponsorship deal with Uruguay's Luis Suarez after Fifa banned him for nine matches for biting an Italy defender, but the German sportswear firm said it would not use him in any further World Cup marketing.

“Adidas fully supports FIFA’s decision. Adidas certainly does not condone Luis Suarez’s recent behaviour and we will again be reminding him of the high standards we expect from our players,” a spokeswoman said in an emailed comment.

“We have no plan to use Suarez for any additional marketing activities during the 2014 FIFA World Cup,” she said, adding that Adidas’ relationship with Suarez was otherwise unchanged.

“We will discuss all aspects of our future partnership directly with Suarez and his team.”

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Suarez is one of the top footballers that Adidas sponsors and the company’s campaign for the World Cup prominently features an image of the Uruguay player baring his teeth.