Nike to sponsor Indian football team
The agreement comes after the AIFF clinched a 10-year television rights deal with Zee Sports worth Rs 273 crore in 2005.
After dressing some of the best teams in the world such as Brazil, the Netherlands, Portugal, the United States and South Korea, global sports goods giant Nike has now set its sights on the Indian football team.
The American company signed a seven-year deal as the official kit sponsor with the All India Football Federation on Monday after signing a similar contract with the Indian Cricket Board last month.
The agreement comes after the AIFF clinched a 10-year television rights deal with Zee Sports worth Rs 273 crore in 2005.
As per the contract, Nike will supply apparel, footwear and equipment to various national football teams.
The agreement covers the senior men's and women's sides and age-specific teams in the Under-16 and Under-20 category.
"The new partnership with Nike will bring in cutting edge innovation in apparel and footwear to our players, which we believe will enhance their on-field performance," AIFF president Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi said at the launch.
However, the deal amount was not disclosed by either party saying "details were still being worked out."
Nike also dresses top European clubs like Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus and Inter Milan, but the company has no such plans in India as of now.
"We have just started our association with the AIFF and have not thought about similar deals with Indian clubs," Sanjay Mehra, General Manager of Nike India, said.
As part of the deal, the multinational will also undertake marketing and promotional activities at the grassroots level and merchandise replicas of the Indian team jerseys.