March 22, (THEWILL)- Nike has found itself embroiled in controversy. The sportswear giant responsible for manufacturing England’s national soccer team kits unveiled a new design featuring an altered version of the iconic St George’s Cross, igniting backlash from fans and political figures alike.
The updated design replaces the traditional red-on-white St George’s Cross with a gradient of blues, reds and purples adorning the shirt collar. Nike hailed this “playful update” as a “modern take” aimed at “uniting and inspiring” while “disrupting history.” However, many have voiced displeasure, taking to social media and radio shows to demand the design be scrapped.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, weighed in, stating: “When it comes to our national flags, we shouldn’t mess with them, because they’re a source of pride, identity, who we are and they’re perfect as they are.” Opposition leader Keir Starmer echoed this sentiment, urging Nike to reconsider the contentious design.
Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, who represented the national team at three World Cups, expressed bewilderment at the need for change, asserting, “I think we see a lot of changes these days with different things and I just think the colours for England, like the Three Lions, it’s traditional.”
With a general election looming in Britain this year, where cultural issues are expected to play a significant role, the controversy surrounding Nike’s design decision has become a heated topic of debate.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
