TOP sports brands are to stop making football boots with premium kangaroo leather.
The likes of Nike and Puma are ditching it in favour of synthetic uppers after pressure from animal rights activists and a crackdown in the United States.
The popular Nike Tiempo will in future use alternative synthetic fabric
Ex-England captain David Beckham stopped wearing his kangaroo-skin boots in 2006 after he was sent graphic images of animals being slaughtered for them.
US sportswear giant Nike announced last week that by the end of the year kangaroo leather would not be used in any of its products.
They said its popular Tiempo range — worn by stars including Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson — will in future use alternative synthetic fabric.
It comes after German brand Puma agreed to ditch kangaroo leather a few weeks ago.
Nike’s recent announcement has been welcomed by Wayne Pacelle — the president of animal welfare group the Centre for a Humane Economy — who called it a “seismic event for wildlife protection”.
Nike was a target of the group’s “Kangaroos are not shoes” campaign video.