Sir Keir Starmer backs calls for Nike to scrap new England football kit over redesigned St George cross
Sir Keir Starmer has expressed agreement with the negative feedback towards Nike for altering the design of the cross of St George featured on the back of the latest England team uniform.
The leader of the Labour party requested the sports maker to revert to the original flag instead of the multicoloured one.
He made these remarks in response to a lot of backlash on social media regarding the modification. Many are urging individuals to stop supporting the American sports company, X.
The controversy began when Nike shared photos on the internet of the latest England outfit that is set to be worn during the upcoming Euro 24 competition.
Some of the photos showcased the brand new purple 'away' uniform, as well as the traditional white 'home' jersey. However, one of the posts on social media featured a fresh design on the back of the shirt, consisting of a purple, blue, black and red cross. The caption for this post mentioned that a fun twist on the St George flag can be seen on the collar, which aims to bring people together and offer inspiration.
In the past, shirts frequently showcased the colors red and white from the St. George's flag.
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Numerous X users have responded to the latest gear, and most of them have expressed their disapproval. They have criticized it as being unnecessary or "disrespectful." A few have accused Nike of trying too hard to be politically correct, and many have even urged everyone not to purchase any of Nike's products.
When The Sun asked Sir Keir if changing the colors was "incorrect," he joined in the disapproval.
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"I believe it was," he stated.
As you might already be aware, I have a great passion for football. I frequently attend matches in England, both those played by men and women, and it's a common sight to see the flag being displayed by all.
The thing brings people together, there's no need for alteration, we should simply embrace it - therefore, in my opinion, they ought to reconsider their decision and revert back to the original form.
He continued, "I'm uncertain if they have a valid explanation for why they believed altering it was necessary to begin with."
There's another point I'd like to bring up, which is that they should consider lowering the cost of the shirts. As far as I know, they're currently priced at £130.
On the Nike website, you can purchase a shirt for the home team that is suitable for both women and men at the price of £124.99.
Nike has recently released a statement about their new apparel, specifically the England 2024 home kit. According to the statement, this outfit breaks away from tradition by adding a contemporary spin to a beloved favorite.
The cuffs are designed after the training uniforms worn by the English national football team's champions of 1966. The colors used are a blend of blue and red hues, resulting in a gradient effect that is complemented by the addition of purple on top.
On the back of the collar, you can also see a rendition of the St George flag in matching hues.
Several well-known individuals, such as soccer analysts and government officials, have expressed their disapproval of the shirt's appearance and high cost.
A person on social media asked Nike, "Have you designed shoes featuring other country flags?"
One person expressed that it wasn't within someone's jurisdiction to play with, whereas another individual mentioned that the appearance was subpar. They stated that they would wear their older England shirt instead, even if it gets stained with coffee or other messy substances. The preference was to utilize the old garment rather than wear the new one.
Someone who goes by the name of "Alfred Ramsay" has started a petition on change.org. Many individuals have already signed up. The individual behind the petition prefers to stay anonymous but mentions in the text: "I'm keen on purchasing this new shirt, but I'm unable to do so if it displays the Cross of St George vandalized... Kindly change the clothing item".
Nike has not made any public statements about the controversy, despite revealing several other kits from different countries at the same time. Sky News has attempted to contact Nike to obtain their response.
England has not made any official statement regarding the matter except for promoting the availability of the kits through their social media accounts. These kits are now up for sale as of today.
The beginning of Euro 2024 in Germany is just around the corner, as it is now less than 100 days away. England and Scotland have secured their spots in the tournament, while Wales has a chance to qualify through the play-offs by playing against Poland on Tuesday.
