The German football team’s uniform is banned due to its resemblance to Nazi symbolism

Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen denied that the uniform’s similarity to Nazi symbols was intentional.

Adidas has banned football fans from buying personalized German shirts bearing the number 44 after media reports highlighted similarities to the symbol used by World War II Nazi SS units.

“We will block customization of T-shirts,” an Adidas spokesperson said.

SS units were largely responsible for the crimes against humanity committed by the Nazis.

The recently launched playing kit also sparked controversy with the choice of pink as the color of the team’s second kit.

The issue of Nazi symbolism was first raised by historian Michael König, who stated that the design of the uniforms was “very questionable”.

The rune used to symbolize the SS was designed in 1929 for use by Nazi units.

Members of the SS served as agents of the Gestapo, the German secret police, and concentration camp guards.

The tasks of the SS included managing the camps where millions of people were sentenced to death.

Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen denied that the uniform’s similarity to Nazi symbols was intentional.

“We, as a company, are committed to countering xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in all its forms,” he reiterated.

Adidas told the BBC that the German Football Association (DFB) and its partners painted the numbers on the shirts.

In a post on X, the former Twitter, the DFB said that the shirt designs were submitted to UEFA (Union of European Football Associations) for review during the design process and that “none of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism”.

They added that an alternative design for the number 4 would be developed.

The playing kit itself was involved in another controversy due to the choice of bright pink as the color for the second kit.

Supporters say the color represents the country’s diversity. But critics argue that this is not Germany’s traditional color and was introduced solely to raise money for the DFB.

Adidas has been making German shirts since 1950.

The DFB recently announced that its partnership with the German company Adidas is coming to an end. From 2027, Germany will have the American Nike as its supplier of sporting goods.

The decision was criticized and classified as a “lack of patriotism” by Economy Minister Robert Habeck.

Germany will host this year’s European Championship, which will take place in 10 different cities.

Source: Terra

Rose

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