The European Football Championship is only three months away, but England – opponents of the Red Devils in a practice match on Tuesday – is already in the middle of its first controversy. The new jersey, and more specifically the different color of the English flag, has caused intense criticism. Fans, columnists, politicians: they are all involved in the debate. But Nike and the Football Association are unwilling to give in.
LOOK. The presentation of the English jerseys
The Red Devils play against England on Tuesday. A top billing as a friendly match towards EURO 2024. But that is not yet the focus across the Channel. They have other cats to flog first.
The recently proposed jerseys for the European Championships provoked a lot of controversy. Nike opted for a white home kit and a purple away shirt. That’s not where the problem lies. However, with the flag embroidered in the collar. The cross of St. George is not only red anymore, but has been given different shades. One of the nation’s earliest, and most important, symbols is depicted on the jersey in a mix of blue, purple and red.
“A playful update that should unite and inspire,” says Nike. That turns out a little differently.
Petition
After the release, many English fans expressed their dissatisfaction. A petition is going around on social media called ‘save the cross of St. George in English football’. The petition already has 15,000 virtual signatures, and still counting. Words such as ‘shame’, stupid’ and ‘simply woke’ are discussed on ‘X’.
But newspapers, magazines, podcasts and even politicians are also involved in the debate. “No other country would allow this,” writes The Daily Mail columnist Simon Jordan. “We have no lessons to learn about our values from Nike. And the English Football Association is absolutely complicit. Is our national identity a joke then?” Chris Sutton, analyst for ‘Sky Sports’ and ‘BBC’, puts it this way: “I understand that people are angry. This is not the cross of St. George. Why on earth would this design inspire and unite? This is bullsh*t.”
Politician Nigel Farage, one of the most outspoken supporters of Brexit, calls it a “complete joke”.
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Bond doesn’t budge
Due to the many comments, Nike felt compelled to explain the design. By citing the successful past, they hope that the criticism will quiet down. “The 2024 jersey opts for a modern version of a classic. The colors are based on the training outfits from 1966, when England became world champions. Even then there was blue, red and purple. The same colors have now been used for the flag.”
Despite the topic being discussed in all levels of society, the English association does not want to give in and therefore adjust the jersey. Out of principle, but also because a new production of thousands and thousands of copies would take at least six months. And the European Championships start in three months.
Another thing: in 2011, England, then with Umbro as supplier, opted for a jersey on which the cross of St. George was depicted in different colors. This is to emphasize the diversity of the team. There was no commotion then.
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Tags: complete joke Red Devils footballloving Englands worries moment Sport
