The Football Association is standing by the controversial design of the brand new England shirt despite criticism from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer.
The shirt’s producer Nike has altered the looks of the St George’s Cross utilizing purple and blue horizontal stripes in what it referred to as a “playful update” to the shirt forward of Euro 2024.
Sunak warned Nike “should not mess” with the flag whereas Starmer urged Nike to “reconsider” the design.
The FA stated it was “very proud” of the crimson and white St George’s Cross however gave its help to the brand new design.
“The new England 2024 home kit has a number of design elements which were meant as a tribute to the 1966 World Cup-winning team,” a spokesperson stated.
“The colored trim on the cuffs is impressed by the coaching gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the identical colors additionally function on the design on the again of the collar. It shouldn’t be the primary time that totally different colored St George’s Cross-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.
“We are very proud of the red and white St George’s cross – the England flag. We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be displayed prominently at Wembley tomorrow – as it always is – when England play Brazil.”
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The Prime Minister was requested concerning the kit design on a go to to Derbyshire on Friday.
“Obviously I prefer the original, and my general view is that when it comes to our national flags, we shouldn’t mess with them,” Sunak stated.
“Because they are a source of pride, identity, who we are, and they’re perfect as they are.”
Labour chief Sir Keir Starmer referred to as on Nike to rethink, and advised The Sun: “I’m a giant soccer fan, I’m going to England video games, women and men’s video games, and the flag is used by all people. It is a unifier. It doesn’t must be modified. We simply must be happy with it.
“So, I think they should just reconsider this and change it back. I’m not even sure they can properly explain why they thought they needed to change it in the first place.”
A petition on Change.org calling for a design change had already attracted greater than 21,000 signatures by midday on Friday.
However, former nationwide workforce star John Barnes couldn’t perceive what all of the fuss was about.
“I don’t get involved in culture wars any more but this whole furore…I didn’t even know there was a St George’s cross,” he advised the PA information company.
““If they had been going to alter the three lions then that’s a debate available. I don’t see what the fuss is. I believe it’s a a lot ado about nothing.
“They are not changing the colour of the shirt, the lions are still there. If they were going to change the national flag for England and change the colours then that’s a proper debate to have.”
The kit pricing has additionally been criticised.
An “authentic” model prices £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for youngsters whereas a “stadium” model is £84.99 and £64.99 for youngsters.
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