26 Feb 2014

Adidas withdraws World Cup T-shirts because of sexual reference

6:21 pm on 26 February 2014

Under pressure from Brazil's tourism ministry, Adidas will withdraw a range of football T-shirts that caused outrage because of their sexual references.

Brazilian officials complained, about the t-shirts on sale in the US market saying they would promote sex tourism.

The controversial line of products launched by FIFA's official sponsor, shows among other things a young woman in a bikini with a Rio landscape behind her and the words, "Lookin' to Score" above the word "Brazil".

An even more controversial design shows the same picture of a girl with an "I (heart) Brazil" design that includes a triangular shape resembling a G-string.

The German company, the world's second-largest sporting goods manufacturer, later announced it would withdraw the T-shirts.