Bayern threaten to stop players appearing for Germany

BAYERN MUNICH have threatened to prevent its players turning out for the German national team following a row over sponsorship.

The Bavarian giants have been alarmed by reports that US sportswear company Nike are bidding to replace home favourites Adidas as the leading sponsors of the German team.

Adidas are shareholders in Bayern and for club players to wear Nike on their shirts would be seen as a betrayal.

“I just cannot imagine that a Bayern player would wear a German shirt with the Nike logo on it,” said Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, the club president and former World Cup striker for Germany. His comments brought an angry response from Oliver Bierhoff, the former striker who is now general manager of the German national squad.

“The rules stipulate that players must conform to the choice of sporting equipment made by the federation,” he said.

Bierhoff said that if Bayern stood in the way of its players turning out for Germany, he would take the matter before world governing body FIFA.

Both sides have time to sort out their differences, however, as the current Adidas contract with Germany runs through until 2011.

Nike is believed to have offered €50 million a year for eight years to sponsor Germany, way above the €11 million a year that Adidas currently pays.

Bayern and Germany legend Franz Beckenbauer said that the German national federation had no option other than to seriously considering the Nike offer.

“To not do so would be criminal,” he said. “But quite honestly I can’t see them changing companies.”