The retailer has been rapidly expanding its international business as it sets its sights on rivaling Decathlon’s global empire. Retail Week takes a closer look at the two global sportswear giants:

Sports Direct

Sales: £1.84bn in its year to April 29, 2012

Number of outlets in home market: 453

Total number of outlets: 522

Number of countries where it has a presence: 17, including Belgium, Portugal, Hungary, Iceland, Slovakia and Czech Republic, Luxembourg and France.

Quote: Chief executive Dave Forsey told Retail Week in March 2011: “If you take a five- to 10-year view it will be us and Decathlon. We’ve got stores opening in France in the next month -we’re going up against them in their own backyard.”

^{Statistics: Retail Week Knowledge Bank}

Decathlon owner Oxylane

Sales: £5.67bn in its year ending 31 December, 2012

Number of outlets in home market: 315

Total number of outlets: 807

Number of countries where it has a presence: 20, including China, Brazil, France, Germany, India, Italy, Spain, Russia and Portugal.

Quote: UK managing director Steve Dykes told The Telegraph last year said it wanted to expand after the collapse of Blacks Leisure. “The window of opportunity can be quite small, and now is the right time to shoot for it.”

^{Statistics: Planet Retail}