Adidas has pulled the sale of Germany’s new national team football jerseys after it was revealed that the number 44 kit bore a resemblance to the logo of the Nazi Party’s notorious SS paramilitary units.
The move to withdraw jerseys with the number 44 came after it was pointed out on social media that the two fours together resembled the stylized “SS” used by the Nazi Party’s Schutzstaffel group. The symbol is now banned in Germany.
“We will block personalization of the jerseys with the number 44,” an Adidas spokesman confirmed.
The kits were released last month as Germany beat France 2-0 in a friendly and were due to be worn at Euro 2024, which is taking place in Germany this summer.
The DFB, the German football association, said it had not been aware of the similarity between the number 44 and the SS symbol when it approved the kits.
“We regret that this has happened and we will take steps to ensure that it does not happen again,” a DFB spokesman said.
The decision to ban the number 44 kit has been welcomed by Jewish groups.
“This is the right decision,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. “The SS was responsible for some of the worst crimes in human history, and its symbol should not be associated with football.”
The controversy over the Germany kits is the latest in a series of incidents involving Nazi symbols in sport.
In 2019, Italian football club Lazio was fined by UEFA for its fans’ use of the SS symbol. And in 2017, a British athlete was banned from competing in the Commonwealth Games for wearing a T-shirt with a Nazi slogan.
These incidents highlight the need for sports organizations to be vigilant about the use of Nazi symbols. Such symbols have no place in sport, which should be a place for all people, regardless of their race, religion, or ethnicity.
In addition to the controversy over the number 44 kit, the new Germany kits have also been criticized for their choice of colors. The home kit is white with black stripes, while the away kit is pink.
Some fans have criticized the pink kit, saying it is not a traditional color for Germany and that it looks like a “Barbie kit.” Others have defended the kit, saying it is a modern and stylish design.
The DFB has said that the pink kit was chosen to represent the diversity of Germany.
“We want to show that Germany is a country for everyone, regardless of their gender, race, or religion,” a DFB spokesman said.
The new Germany kits are sure to continue to be a talking point in the run-up to Euro 2024.
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