Rio 2016: Nike Explains Why NFF’s logo was missing on Nigeria’s Olympic jerseys

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Nigerians who have been wondering why the Nigeria Football Federation logo was not placed on the shirts of the Olympic Eagles need not worry because this is in keeping with the rules of the International Olympic Committee.

Fans got to see the country’s new all-green jerseys during Friday’s 5-4 victory over Japan in Manaus. For a country whose team struggled to get a flight to the Olympics, the absence of the NFF’s logo seemed like another slight on the nation’s ego.

However, the organizers dictate that no emblem apart from the National Olympic Committee’s as well as the kit manufacturer’s emblem can appear on athletes’ clothing.

Goal’s query to Nigeria’s kit manufacturers, Nike, confirmed the reason for the omission.

“In the Olympic Games, the teams play with the National Olympic Committee logos. This is according to the rules of the IOC,” Nike VP for Africa, Tina Salminen told Goal in an email.

The controversy could have arisen due to the press release by the NFF earlier this week where the new Nigeria jersey was unveiled with the federation’s logo conspicuously placed on the left breast of the shirt.

Nigeria home and Away Kit 2016-17…https://t.co/tNUrlwEIjx #NigeriaNewNikeKits pic.twitter.com/jadsrS22yL

— The NFF (@thenff) August 2, 2016
The rules of the Olympics forbid teams from putting federation logos on their shirts in order to have a clean look.

“One national flag or NOC emblem, with a maximum size of 25cm2, must be positioned at chest level on the front of the shirt. It shall not limit the legibility of the number positioned on the front of the shirt,” the IOC wrote in its Rio 2016 guidelines on use of emblems.

“On each shirt sleeve, between the shoulder point and the elbow point, the teams may display the national fag or NOC emblem once to a maximum size of 25cm2. The national flag or NOC emblem may also be displayed in the collar zone to a maximum size of 15cm2. The national fag or NOC emblem may be displayed on the front of the shorts on one leg to a maximum size of 25cm2.”

The IOC is also strict about the submission of team shirts to Fifa for inspection ahead of the Olympic Games so that no country flouts its laws.

Source: Goal.com

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