England kit row as fans blast ‘meaningless’ change to St George’s Cross and Nike and FA reject demands to recall it
NIKE and the FA have “no plans” to recall the new England home kit amid a row over its altered St George’s flag.
The Three Lions’ strips were unveiled on Monday with the traditional red cross altered to one with navy, light blue and purple.
It is thought to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit – which contained blue, red and purple.
The change led to some labelling the shirt “woke” as they called on the manufacturer to revert back to the usual colours.
But according to The Mail, Nike will not succumb to pressure from some England fans.
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.”
The only concession from the American brand was that a tweet describing it as a “playful update” which “appears on the collar to unite and inspire” was “clumsy language”.
Nike are said to be receiving support from the FA who “completely stand by” the slight tweak.
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It is understood the flag alteration was the work of a Nike designer, but was also signed off by the FA.
And the FA insist the decision was made to “honour the classic colour regime of 1966 training gear”.
The 2024 kit was agreed upon two years ago and the unlikely decision to create and distribute a new one would take between six and nine months.
TalkSPORT host Simon Jordan has slammed the decision to alter the St George’s Cross.
He said: “I don’t quite understand why Nike want to have a playful brief on our identity.
“Is our national identity a joke, is it something we’re ashamed of? I think our national identity is something we should be proud of. I don’t find it offensive, I find it unnecessary.
“Rather than reclaim it, what we’ll do is put up a meaningless cross that has no value to it and represents nobody.
“No other country would allow this to happen, they wouldn’t allow it to be done on their national shirt.
“This is the same Nike that couldn’t even be bothered to produce Mary Earps shirts. I don’t think we should be taking lessons from Nike on the values of this country.
“And the FA are absolutely complicit in this. The FA will have their virtue-signalling fingers all over this.”
