Flamengo terminates agreement with Nike

RIO DE JANEIRO, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Brazilian football club Flamengo announced on Tuesday that it terminated the agreement it held with U.S. headquartered sportswear and equipment supplier Nike.

"Flamengo regards the agreement with Nike as terminated. Now we will wait for the lawsuit," said Michel Asseff, the club's attorney.

According to the club, the relationship with the company has been harmed by a series of events. The most recent one was the fact that Nike released a special jersey to celebrate Flamengo's 2008 state championship title before the tournament's final game took place.

Despite Flamengo's 3-1 victory over Botafogo on Sunday, the club did not approve of the supplier's attitude in the episode, and notified Nike of it.

"That was something very serious, which offended our principles, the sport's principles, and Flamengo is not an arrogant club," stressed Asseff. What Nike did was to patronize Flamengo's adversaries. We do not want business with them anymore."

The attorney added that the team could possibly wear an alternative uniform, different from the one designed by Nike, in the Libertadores Cup's quarterfinal rematch against Mexico's America on Wednesday in Rio.

"The decision concerning the uniform on Wednesday is on the board of directors, but I do think there is the possibility of an alternative uniform," he highlighted.