England will be one of the many teams that will take advantage of the first FIFA date of the year to wear their new uniform. This new shirt, which will make its debut on the field in the friendly against Brazil at Wembley, generated quite a bit of controversy.
The controversy comes from the change in color of the country’s flag embroidered on the back of the navy blue collar. The horizontal line of the Cross of Saint George abandons its traditional red color and becomes a navy blue, a lighter blue and a violet part. The white background also disappears.
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Nike, manufacturer of the clothing, indicated that the change is inspired by the training uniform worn by the England team in 1966, the year in which they won their only World Cup and in which they hosted.
“We understand the meaning and importance of the St. George’s cross and it was never our intention to offend, given what it means to English fans,” the American company said in a statement released in response to the controversy.
The new @England 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟒 𝑵𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒂𝒎 𝒌𝒊𝒕𝒔 celebrate football heroes 🦸 of the past with a modern twist.
Made with 𝑫𝒓𝒊-𝑭𝑰𝑻 𝑨𝑫𝑽 to breathe with you 😮💨 in the moments that matter most. #NikeFootball pic.twitter.com/G2CkgHp3v6
— Nike Football (@nikefootball) March 18, 2024
The British Prime Minister himself, Rishi Sunak, weighed in on the issue by stating that it was better not to “touch” national symbols. “They are a source of pride, of identity, they represent who we are and they are perfect as they are,” he said.
Keir Starmer, leader of the main opposition party, the Labor Party, urged Nike to “reconsider” the change. “This flag belongs to everyone, it is a symbol of unity. It should not be changed, he commented.
