Barcelona, the soccer club, has complained to Nike
that its jerseys absorb so much moisture that it slows them down. Citing the Spanish newspaper El Pais, the Associated Press reported that Barcelona
players claim the jerseys tend to double in weight by halftime.

Nike issued a statement saying the problem is limited to home jerseys and only
versions issued directly to players rather than any sold at retail.

“Nike's product team is working together with the club to find a
solution to address the issues that have been raised about the Barcelona
home jersey. Nike is dealing with the situation as a matter of
urgency.”

The sportswear maker said it does not know the exact problem with the shirt, but it should be resolved in two to three weeks.

The
new shirts are made from a fabric called Dri-FIT, which is composed of
recycled plastic and used exclusively by first-team squads of Nike's
sponsored clubs, including Manchester United, Arsenal and Inter Milan.
The jerseys are not for sale to the public.

Nike said Barcelona is
the only one of its sponsored clubs to complain so far, although tennis
star Rafael Nadal experienced a similar problem with his own Nike
Dri-FIT gear at the Australian Open in January.