Furious England fans have labelled Nike’s ‘playful update’ to the St George’s Cross on the back of the new Three Lions shirt as ‘woke‘.
Many supporters were outraged when the kit designer revealed yesterday it had replaced the horizonal line on the traditional red cross with a navy blue, light blue and pink one.
The strip, which was launched on Monday ahead of Euro 2024 in Germany this summer, promised to ‘celebrate football heroes of the past with a modern twist’.
The American sports brand tweeted the launch of the new kit and made specific reference to the ‘new’ flag, writing: ‘A playful update to the St. George appears on the collar to unite and inspire.’
But a number of fans, including politicians Nigel Farage and Brendan Clarke Smith, were enraged at the new design bearing no resemblance to the original cross, while Reform UK MP Lee Anderson described the move as ‘virtue signaling woke nonsense’.
Many supporters were outraged when the kit designer revealed yesterday it had replaced the horizonal line on the traditional red cross with a navy blue, light blue and pink one.
The American sports brand tweeted the launch of the new kit and made specific reference to the ‘new’ flag alongside a picture
A number of England fans were furious at the new design bearing no resemblance to the original cross
Speaking to the Daily Express, Mr Anderson said: ‘The left have a nerve to ask me why I want my country back.
‘This virtue signalling, namby-pamby, pearl-clutching woke nonsense must stop. Any more of this and I’ll be on the first flight to Rwanda.’
Nike unveiled England’s new home and away kits on Monday, ahead of this summer’s Euros in Germany.
The kits – which will also be worn by the Lionesses and England Para teams in 2024 – will cost fans £124.99 in adult sizes and £119.99 for kids.
But Mr Clarke-Smith believes the brand are unlikely to sell many of them following the ‘update’ to the St George cross.
The Tory MP added: ‘Maybe somebody in the design department misheard Three Lions and instead went for three lines on a shirt.
‘I’m not sure what this is supposed to be, but it certainly looks nothing like our flag and I’m not sure it needs an ‘update’ either.
‘That said, I doubt they’ll shift many at those sort of prices.’
Nigel Farage said the new kit’s were an ‘absolute joke’ ahead of their first use by Gareth Southgate’s side on Saturday, when they face Brazil at Wembley.
He added: ‘That’s it, it’s a multicoloured cross, it bears no relationship to the St George’s Cross whatsoever.
‘If the England football team think that’s acceptable well why on earth would you be apologetic about Englishness if you’re going to play for England in the European football finals. I think it’s an absolute joke.’
The Nike home jersey goes with a classic simple white design with a blue trim. While they have gone back to blue for the away strip, after the red one which never got used during the World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Nike tweeted the launch of the new kit and made specific reference to the ‘new’ flag alongside a picture in a social media post yesterday, writing: ‘A playful update to the St. George appears on the collar to unite and inspire.’
England have unveiled their new kits ahead of this summer’s Euros – with captain Harry Kane seen wearing the home strip
Fans aren’t happy about Nike’s ‘playful update’ to the cross of St George on new England shirt
Comedian Jason Manford also weighed in on the new kit design
Another fan questioned whether Nike would do this to another team’s flag
Many fans had already had problems with kit’s design and colour
Some may even boycott buying the new kit ahead of this summer’s EUROS
The post garnered a lot of online attention as fans rushed to voice their concerns on the updated flag.
Comedian Jason Manford wrote: ‘Oh dear…this is not gonna go down well! what a weird thing to do tho! A US company having a cheeky play with another countries flag, let’s go back to Umbro I say, we won the World Cup in that kit.’
Another X user added: ‘Disgraceful. The St George’s Cross is the sacred icon of the English nation & people. Why have we allowed Nike, a US brand that produces these shirts with sweatshop labour, to defile our national flag? Why is England so ashamed of itself that it won’t get into uproar about this?’
A third said: That’s not playful. It’s ideologically-driven propaganda. I will NEVER buy another one of your products.’
The new kits had already divided opinions among fans with the choices of colour and design, with some joking it was a ‘copy and paste’ from France’s kit.
But it has no promoted the same level of disapproval as the modified cross.
A fan said yesterday: ”Playful update of a flag? Would you do the same with the Turkish & Saudi flag?’
Another user said: user: ‘Can we just have the St George’s flag since that’s who and what we represent ?!’
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