The German sportswear firm Adidas announced on Friday that a dispute with Morocco over the appearance of a football shirt for Algeria's bitter rivals had been settled and that it regretted the uproar.
Due to the usage of the "zellige" pattern, which is common in Moroccan ceramic mosaics, Rabat demanded last month that Adidas stop selling the new t-shirts. Rabat accused Adidas of copying "Moroccan cultural heritage."
The culture ministry's attorney asked that the jerseys, which he claimed were "inspired" by the vibrant Moroccan patterns, be withdrawn within two weeks.
Following discussions with the ministry, Adidas claimed a "good resolution" to the conflict on Friday, and the tops, worn by the Algerian squad for pre-match warm-ups, will not be withdrawn.
The company released a statement saying, "The design was in fact inspired by the zellige mosaics pattern, and was at never time intended to offend anyone."
"We regret the controversy surrounding this matter and would like to show our sincere respect to the people and craftspeople of Morocco."
The case, according to Mourad Elajouti, the attorney for the culture ministry, underlined "the necessity of safeguarding our cultural legacy and the ancestral know-how of Moroccan craftsmanship." He expressed his delight at the news.
However, there were indications that Adidas may be facing new issues; Algerian local media stated that the nation's football organization is dissatisfied with Adidas and is considering ending its deal with the company.
A representative for Adidas stated that he would not address rumors in the media.
On September 23, Adidas posted a picture of the new 2022–2023 Algerian national team uniform on Twitter, claiming that it was "inspired by culture and history."
According to Adidas, the Mechouar Palace in Tlemcen, northwest Algeria, served as the design's primary source of inspiration.
However, there were indications that Adidas may be facing new issues; Algerian local media stated that the nation's football organization is dissatisfied with Adidas and is considering ending its deal with the company.
A representative for Adidas stated that he would not address rumors in the media.
On September 23, Adidas posted a picture of the new 2022–2023 Algerian national team uniform on Twitter, claiming that it was "inspired by culture and history."
According to Adidas, the Mechouar Palace in Tlemcen, northwest Algeria, served as the design's primary source of inspiration.
Relations between Algeria and Morocco, which did not qualify for the World Cup finals that will begin in Qatar next month, have always been tense.
Western Sahara is a contested region between the neighbors, where the Polisario Front, which has the support of Algiers, is fighting for independence from Rabat.
Algeria broke off relations with Rabat in August 2021, claiming the Moroccan capital of "hostile measures," which Morocco criticized as "absolutely unjustifiable."
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