The Football Association and Nike are under increasing pressure to recall England’s controversial new shirt ahead of its debut against Brazil.
Gareth Southgate’s side will take to the Wembley turf in front of 90,000 fans for a prestige friendly, wearing a kit that has caused uproar amongst former players, fans and even politicians.
The fallout surrounds the American apparel giant’s decision to change the colour of the St George’s cross printed on the collar of the home shirt.
Rather than use a traditional red on a white background, the cross is comprised of red, purple and blue on a navy background in what Nike initially termed as a ‘playful update’ which was intended to ‘united and inspire’.
Amid a growing backlash, Nike released a statement on Thursday insisting they would not recall the shirt while highlighting the reworked flag design was inspired by the training kit warn by England’s 1966 World Cup legends.
A Nike spokesperson said: ‘The England 2024 Home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.
‘The trim on the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped with purple. The same colours also feature an interpretation of the flag of St. George on the back of the collar.’
That explanation has failed to appease a growing number of dissenters, including former England midfielder Joey Barton who noted the palette on the new jersey mirrored that of the Genderfluid Pridge flag.
‘Trying to sneak that Woke, Gay communist nonsense onto the England national team jersey,’ he wrote on X.
‘Nothing ‘playful’ about it. Another manoeuvre in their attempted ‘Coup d’état’ of the men’s game. Leave our flag and our game alone.’
Rishi Sunak, meanwhile was forced to wade into the debate on Friday and urged Nike ‘not to mess’ with one of the symbols of the England football team.
He said: ‘Obviously, I prefer the original and my general view is when it comes to our national flags we shouldn’t mess with them because they are a source of pride, identity, who we are and they are perfect as we are.’
The prime minister was echoing the sentiments of Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer who urged those responsible to revert to a more conventional design.
He told The Sun: ‘I’m a big football fan, I go to England games, men and women’s games, and the flag is used by everybody. It is a unifier. It doesn’t need to be changed. We just need to be proud of it.
‘So, I think they should just reconsider this and change it back. I’m not even sure they can properly explain why they thought they needed to change it in the first place.’
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