The controversy surrounding England’s Euro 2024 kit, designed by Nike, has sparked a significant backlash among fans and commentators. The kit features a modified St George’s Cross on the collar, replacing the traditional red cross with one that incorporates navy, light blue, and purple colors. This change has been met with widespread criticism, with many fans and figures in the media branding the update as “woke” and demanding the flag be returned to its original colors.
The Football Association (FA) and Nike have defended the decision, insisting that there are no plans to recall the kit. The altered St George’s Cross is described as a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners, with the colors reflecting the “classic color regime” of the training gear used by England’s 1966 World Cup-winning squad. The FA and Nike argue that the change is aimed at honoring the legacy of the 1966 team, rather than an attempt to diversify the nation’s flag.
Despite the backlash, the kit has reportedly sold well since its release, with Nike stating that the jersey has “flown off the shelves.” Industry experts suggest that creating a new kit to address the St George’s Cross issue would take six to nine months, making it highly unlikely that a new kit could be produced and distributed in time for the Euro 2024 tournament.
The decision to alter the St George’s Cross has been criticized by various figures, including comedian Jason Manford, who called for England to revert to Umbro, the kit manufacturer for the 1966 World Cup-winning team. Manford expressed concern over the “weird” decision to change the flag on the collar of the new international shirts.
The controversy has also drawn attention from political figures, such as Nigel Farage, who criticized the design as “virtue-signalling woke nonsense” and questioned the appropriateness of changing the flag on an England kit.
The decision to alter the St George’s Cross on England’s Euro 2024 kit has sparked significant controversy and backlash among fans and commentators. Despite the criticism, Nike and the FA have defended the change, insisting that it is a tribute to the 1966 World Cup-winning team and not an attempt to diversify the nation’s flag. The kit has reportedly sold well, and there are no immediate plans to recall it.
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