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Report: Amazon joins retailers in pulling Washington merchandise from its online store

The trend to drop Washington Redskins merchandise as the team faces pressure to change its long-maligned name has a new, very large backer.

Online retail behemoth Amazon confirmed to CNBC on Wednesday that it had sent a note to sellers announcing it will pull a variety of Washington products — including jerseys, T-shirts and jewelry — from its store. Sellers reportedly have 48 hours to review and remove products flagged by Amazon.

Per a statement, the products being removed are the ones with the team name and logo.

From CNBC:

“With the announcement from the Washington team and the NFL, we are removing products with the team’s name and logo from our stores,” according to the notice, which was shared by Ed Rosenberg, who runs an online seller group called ASGTG. “Failure to properly close or delete all restricted product listings from your inventory may result in deactivation.”

More and more companies pressuring Dan Snyder

Washington owner Dan Snyder announced last week that the team would evaluate a potential name change after receiving public pressure from some of its biggest financial partners, as well as local politicians. FedEx, owner of the naming rights for Washington’s FedEx Field, said it had requested the name be changed, as did Pepsi.

The biggest pressure, though, might be coming from all the retailers dropping Washington merchandise. Nike, the NFL’s official uniform supplier, was the first to drop Washington products from its online store, then announced it was also in favor of a name change.

Walmart, Target and Dick’s Sporting Goods later followed suit, and they are now joined by Amazon. Those four retailers likely represent a sizable chunk of Washington merchandise sales.

Amazon’s decision carries some additional intrigue as Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos also owns the team’s local paper, The Washington Post, which still uses the name that Amazon has deemed unacceptable for its site.

LANDOVER, MD - DECEMBER 15: A Washington Redskins helmet is seen on the field before the game between the Washington Redskins and the Philadelphia Eagles at FedExField on December 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
A name change appears to be on the way in D.C. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)

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