KUALA LUMPUR – Is the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) set to switch from Nike to Puma as its national team jersey supplier?
FAM appears poised to end its 17-year partnership with Nike in favour of a four-year deal with German sportswear giant Puma, according to a reliable source within the football fraternity.
The agreement is reportedly 70% complete, with the official announcement expected early next year.
This decision comes despite FAM receiving a highly lucrative offer from another German brand, Adidas, as well as proposals from Spanish suppliers Kelme and Joma.
However, the source revealed that the deal is yet to be finalised due to backlash on social media after news of the agreement was leaked to Harimau Malaya fans.
The backlash stems from Puma being targeted by the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement for boycott.
The BDS movement, a Palestinian-led initiative, calls for boycotts, divestments, and sanctions to pressure Israel into complying with international law.
Puma has been a target of the movement since 2018 due to allegations of supporting Israeli apartheid that BDS claims oppress Palestinians.
“The deal is already 70% complete, and all the paperwork has been prepared, but it has yet to be finalised because the information was leaked, leading to strong backlash from fans,” revealed the source.
FAM’s close ties with Puma, established through previous collaborations in the Malaysia Football League (MFL), reportedly influenced the decision.
“If the deal is finalised, we can expect FAM to announce it early next year,” the source added.
In case the deal falls through, FAM is reportedly considering a local supplier, Kaki Jersey, which currently produces kits for Malaysia Super League team Penang FC and second-division side Sains FC.
“Kaki Jersey could be a viable alternative for FAM if the deal with Puma falls through due to fan pressure related to the BDS movement.
“Partnering with a local brand could also be a positive step, similar to what has been practised in Thailand and Indonesia,” the source shared.
In recent years, Thailand and Indonesia have shifted from international brands to local suppliers, with Thailand working with Warrix and Indonesia collaborating with Mills.
FAM’s Harimau Malaya jersey has had a storied history of partnerships, including Umbro in 1978 and Adidas from 1978 to 2007, before Nike took over in 2007. — November 28, 2024