England kit: Keir Starmer urges change over St George's Cross design
Nike has introduced a new design for the England shirt featuring a "cheerful variation" of the St George's Cross.
Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has urged Nike to modify a freshly designed football jersey for England that presents an alternative color scheme in the cross of St George.
Nike has declared that the shirt, introduced before Euro 2024, has a "cheerful modification" to the cross "to bring together and motivate".
However, there has been negative feedback regarding the utilization of navy, light blue, and purple on a flag located at the back of the collar.
The American company stated that they drew inspiration for the hues from the attire utilized in practice sessions by the victorious England team in the 1966 World Cup.
A number of individuals who follow and comment on football, including politicians and supporters, have expressed dissatisfaction with both the appearance of the shirt and its cost since its release at the start of the week.
The "genuine" edition of the product will become available for purchase starting on March 21st. Its retail price is £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for kids. On the other hand, a cheaper "arena" version is also available, with the price set at £84.99 for adults and £64.99 for kids.
In an interview with The Sun, Sir Keir expressed his belief that the flag holds a unifying value for all, and therefore doesn't require any alterations.
According to him, the solution is simple - we should take pride in it. Therefore, he believes that they ought to reassess their decision and revert to the original arrangement.
I'm not even certain if they can justify why they considered altering the situation initially.
The head of the Labour party has requested that Nike lower the cost of the shirts.
According to BBC News, there are currently no intentions to alter or withdraw the shirt.
Football expert Chris Sutton shared on the It's All Kicking Off podcast by Mail Sport that the flag on the England jersey is not the flag of St George. He acknowledged that some individuals may argue that it does not accurately represent England and should not be used on the national team's jersey. Sutton said he comprehends this perspective.
"I won't become enraged about it, but goodness gracious, couldn't the FA have simply clarified the situation?"
Earlier this week, the FA unveiled the fresh uniforms that the England men's, women's, and para teams will wear in 2024.
The male team of England will soon start sporting the latest kits, which include a purple uniform to be worn away. This kit was made public simultaneously with their new white home uniform. The male team will wear these kits for the first time during their encounters with Brazil and Belgium at the Wembley Stadium on the 23rd and 26th of March.
Nike discussed the new flag design on their website on March 18th, stating it's a fun spin on the St. George's Cross. The flag can be seen on the collar and aims to bring people together while providing motivation.
According to a representative from Nike, the 2024 Home kit for England is a contemporary version of a timeless design that breaks away from tradition.
The design on the ends of the sleeves is inspired by the equipment used by the legendary English team of 1966. The colors used create a fading effect where blues and reds mix and are overlaid by a rich purple. These same colors are used to depict Saint George's flag on the collar's reverse side.
On GB News, Nigel Farage - who leads UKIP no longer - and was involved in the Brexit campaign, shared his opinion that the new emblem is "ridiculous". According to him, the emblem is not at all representative of the St George's Cross.
According to the England Store website, the priciest shirt showcases an authentic style and is made with lightweight and fast-drying materials, ensuring you stay cool and comfortable during play.
The stadium shirt costs £84.99. It has been designed to look just like the ones worn by the players, but it also has technology to keep you comfortable by wicking away sweat. Everything about it is inspired by your favourite team, so you can look and feel like part of the team.
