Beats headphones are causing something of a kerfuffle at the World Cup in Brazil. After several top soccer stars, including Brazilian sensation Neymar, have been spotted wearing the chunky, brightly colored headphones, FIFA, the game’s governing body, has banned the headgear from inside the stadiums, according to Reuters.
Why? Because Beats is not an official sponsor of the games – Sony is.
While it may seem that FIFA is being a bit harsh on the headphones that soccer players prefer to don, it appears this isn’t the first time that Beats has caused a stir at a world sporting event.
Image Credit: Huffington Post; China’s Sun Yang uses a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones
Image Credit: Reuters; Colombia’s track cyclist Edwin Alcibiades Avila Vanegas uses a pair of Beats by Dr. Dre headphones
During the London Olympics last summer, Beats sent thousands of free headphones to the world’s top athletes, according to Reuters. The International Olympic Committee, with its rules to protect official sponsors, had to ban the earphones since Beats wasn’t a sponsor. Also, Olympic athletes are forbidden from wearing gear from their personal sponsors – the same goes for World Cup players.
It’s unclear if Beats gave Neymar his headphones for free or if the soccer star bought them. It seems most likely the headphone company gave them to Neymar, considering the fact he starred in a Beats YouTube ad earlier this month titled, “The Game Before the Game”: