Adidas Will Cancel Sponsorship Deals Of Any Players Belonging To Organisations Which ‘Represent Principles Of Scientology’

Chris Wright

10th, February 2014

16 Comments

By Chris Wright

Los Angeles Feature

Yay!

Don’t ask how, but German magazine Der Spiegel have gotten hold of and published a leaked Adidas endorsement contract/equipment agreement belonging to an anonymous Bayern Munich player which reveals the many forfeiture clauses inserted into his €400,000 deal.

Among the all the run-of-the-mill stuff: don’t get caught taking drugs, selling drugs, trafficking drugs, don’t wear other sportswear company’s apparel, etc, is a clause which states that the player will have his deal cancelled if he’s found to belong “to any organisation or association which represents the principles of L. Ron Hubbard” as, in Adidas’ words, “Scientology and other such organisations are incompatible” with their fundamental brand values of “diversity and tolerance”.

Can we safely assume that this contract does not belong to Bayern’s Tom Kroos?

(Via Guardian)

Posted in Bundesliga, Kits & fashion, Newsnow

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16 Comments

  1. Matt says:

    This close to Googling Tom Kroos Bayern Munich…

  2. Joe says:

    It’s a bit rich, seeing as they rebuilt the brand over the last 15 years on the image of closet Scientologist David Beckham.

  3. Al says:

    look we all know Scientology is absurd but it’s no more absurd than any other “religion” it’s just not around as long, so seems a bit much to single them out, can you imagine the uproar if they included a similar clause for catholics or muslims?

  4. Jon says:

    German politcal system doesnt view Scientology as a religion. The backlash against extremism post WW2 means that they go mad about anything a bit unusual. Not outlawed, but theyve tried before. Makes sense in the context of German politics…

  5. Bear says:

    Agreed with Correct Data here…

    @Al – What other religion denies people outside the religion the right to access their buildings, write about its teachings, and sues anyone besides Scientologists who attempt to draft biographies of L. Ron? It’s a club for celebrities, not a religion.

  6. Banjo says:

    Aye, what he said

  7. TravisKOP says:

    who the fuck is tom kroos?

  8. TravisKOP says:

    . . . . God dammit I just got the joke hahaha, very clever Chris

  9. Al says:

    @ bear @correct data – I think you guys are on shaky ground if you’re going to start a “what religion does….” type argument. What religion allows young boys/girls to be sexually abused and then covers it up? what religion tries to kill people for printing a cartoon of their prophet? what religion is homophobic? I could go on, probably for hours, but my point is not to defend Scientology as I agree about the money, law suits etc., my point, as it was originally, is how can you single out scientology when the rest are just as bad.

    • Correct Data says:

      So no other religion, besides Scientology, charges hundreds of thousands of dollars to learn it’s beliefs. Can’t you just say that? Also two wrongs do not make right, that’s one of Scientology’s key arguments, they can can screw over people, why can’t we? The Scientologists who patrol these internet comments sections always try to change the subject to Catholicism.

  10. syndex says:

    There is only one true religion and the church opens saturday @ 3 pm, with encores Sunday after lunch.

  11. TomKroos says:

    Surely if their brand was about “tolerance” that would mean you are free to believe in anything you like, but apparently “tolerance” means believe in what we deem to be acceptable or you wont get your money. Still, I can’t see too many greedy millionaire players cancelling their contracts over the principle of true “tolerance” (they’d have their skin dyed purple if they could get a few more quid out of it).

  12. Al says:

    @ correct data – what are you talking about? I clearly agree with your points about Scientology and have stated that, how can you not see that other religions are the same? Oh of course, becaus you are blinkered by years of indcotrination. A quick history lesson, the catholic church used to charge people to forgive their sins, it’s called indulgences, look it up, it’s their historical equivalent of scientology charging hundreds of thousands of dollars now. As mentioned, other religions have just been around longer than Scientology so have been through the same arc just yers ago.

  13. Neil says:

    The scientologists believe that space aliens are among us. That kind of takes the cake in terms of deciding which super-religion (in terms of net worth) is the most over-the-top.

  14. Al says:

    @ Neil – I feel dirty for defending scientology but here goes:
    Christians: Virgin birth, water to wine, resurrection from the dead, talking snakes, talking bushes, Noahs Ark etc etc etc
    not overly familiar with the Qu’ran but,
    Muslims: A lot of the above stuff is repeated but embelished plus 30 virgins in heaven for Martyrs, Angels guessing animal names, turning Jews in to apes, yellow cow resurrects a dead man etc etc etc

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