A broken stud on a Predator Pulse football boot has cost Adidas a four figure sum in compensation after court proceedings were brought against them by an amateur footballer.
Sunday league player Mike Ellis ruptured his Achilles tendon when one of the studs on his Adidas boots snapped during a game. As a result, his leg was in a cast and splint for 12 weeks and he subsequently had to undergo physiotherapy.
Originally offered £50 in compensation and a new pair of boots, Mr Ellis from Norfolk in the UK, agreed an undisclosed, four figure out of court settlement after he instructed a lawyer to sue the German sportswear giant.
Speaking to the Eastern Daily Press, Mr Ellis said:
The original offer from Adidas was derisory, given the inconvenience, pain and suffering I went through for 18 months. They must have known that at the time, but fortunately my solicitor was able to achieve a much more equitable outcome.
His solicitor stated in court that modern day football boots were placing greater stress on player’s bodies. Emma Crawley said:
These days there is no give in either the pitches or the studs, so you could say that the studs actually engage too well with the surface. In the case of Mike Ellis, it was the boot which suddenly gave way and all that pent up stress was released catastrophically.
A spokesman for Adidas last night said that the company could not comment on individual cases, but accepted that a fault had occurred in Mr Ellis’ boot.
poor bloke.
Poor show addias.
pfft, “pain and suffering i went through for 18 months”. he just took advantage of the situation for his own greedy needs. i have no respect for amateurs who break their feet after losing a stud.