Nike backlash

EXCLUSIVE

NIKE'S high-profile campaign against racism in football was facing a crisis today after action groups across Europe said they did not want money from the American company.

The StandupSpeakup campaign, backed by Arsenal's Thierry Henry and England defender Rio Ferdinand, is being viewed with suspicion by antiracism groups who are questioning Nike's motives.

Their reluctance raises the prospect of millions of pounds raised from the sale of Nike's popular black and white wrist bands lying unspent.

Spanish anti-racism football campaigner Carlos Ferreyra Nunez said: "We could desperately use funds to run a countrywide campaign and Nike's money is very tempting. But we have serious concerns over whether anti-racism campaigners should take money from such a large, multinational."

Nike's wrist bands have become a chic fashion accessory and could generate as much as Pounds 4 million for the fight against racists. But a spokesman for Projectto Ultra, the main Italian football anti- racism group, said: "It is not right for groups like us to take funding from multinationals."

Nike defends its motives and says it wants to leave a genuine legacy for the long term fight against racism within football.

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