The move to withdraw the number 44 uniform began after it was pointed out that the two 4's resembled the stylized SS used by the Nazi party's Schutzstaffel group.
advertisementThe German Football Federation and Adidas have stopped selling German soccer jerseys because the number 44 resembles the logo of the Nazi party's infamous SS militia.
adidas The federation announced on Monday that it was discontinuing the option of personalized shirts with names and numbers, but the federation also stopped distributing shirts with the number “44” on its online store and We are actively exploring alternative designs for “4''.
The decision was made after social media users pointed out similarities to symbols currently banned in Germany.
“None of the parties involved recognized any similarity to Nazi symbolism during the development process of the jersey design,” the federation said in an X statement.
Who designed the kit?
Adidas spokesperson Oliver Brüggen told news agency dpa that the federation and 11 Team Sports were responsible for designing the name and number on the shirt.
“People from around 100 countries work at Adidas. We are committed to promoting diversity and inclusion, and as a company we actively campaign against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and all forms of hatred. “We are working hard,” Brüggen said.
He added that “any attempt to promote divisive or exclusive views is not part of our values as a brand,” adding that Adidas “has never given any indication that this is our intention. I strongly reject it.”
England's new football shirt has also been controversial recently due to Nike's decision to change the traditional red and white St George's cross and add purple, red and blue horizontal stripes.
The changes, introduced ahead of the UEFA European Championship in Germany, big backlash. Critics say this undermines the country's traditions and accuse Nike of engaging in a “woke” conspiracy to promote virtue signaling and progressive ideals through design.
Despite Nike describing it as a “playful update” inspired by England's 1966 World Cup training kit, the controversy has been sparked by petitions and political leaders such as the Conservative Prime Minister. sparked bipartisan criticism. Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Keir Starmer.
Saying goodbye to 70 years of adidas
In other news, the German Football Association recently announced: Nike will replace Adidas as the national team's official kit supplier from 2027 to 2034.
The new deal brings an abrupt end to the men's team's partnership with Adidas, which spanned more than 70 years and produced four World Cup titles.
DFB President Bernd Neuendorf said in a statement that the partnership with Adidas is extremely valuable for German football and that the association is “fully committed” to achieving continued success until the end of 2026, when the contract expires. “There is,” he said.
DFB CEO Holger Blask said: “Nike has made its best financial offer to date, demonstrating a clear commitment to the promotion of amateur and grassroots sport and the sustainable development of women's football in Germany. I was also impressed by the substantive vision including this.”
video editor • Theo Farrant
