Nike’s new kit design features a ‘playful update’ on the St George’s cross (Picture: Getty)
A host of former England footballers have piled the pressure on Nike and the Football Association amid a growing backlash surrounding the Three Lions controversial new kit.
Gareth Southgate’s side will debut the new strip at Wembley tomorrow night with England facing Brazil in a prestige friendly in front of 90.000 fans.
The new jersey has been met with anything but universal approval, however, with Nike’s ‘playful update’ on the St George’s Cross causing particular outrage.
Despite the increasing controversy, Nike and the FA insist they have no plans to make alterations.
Indeed, the American sportswear manufacturer maintain the decision to ditch the traditional colours was intended to ‘unite and inspire’ while claiming the palette used on the home strip was a nod to the tracksuit warn by the World Cup heroes of 1966.
That explanation cut little ice with ex-England goalkeeper Peter Shilton, capped a record 125 times by his country, who also riled at the price of the kits which will cost up to £125.
He wrote on X: ‘Sorry but this is wrong on every level. I’m totally against it Including the price that Nike football are going to charge.
David Seaman wore a infamous multi-coloured goalkeeping top at Euro 96 but claims that was different to altering the badge or flag (Picture: Getty)
Harry Kane models England’s new home shirt for Euro 2024 (Nike)
‘I’m totally against this on all levels Nike football. The price is outrageous the design is not England.’
Those sentiments were echoed by another former England No.1 David Seaman who quipped the next change would see the iconic Three Lions replaced by cats.
‘Ah mate, don’t,’ Seaman, now 60, said. ‘It’s not broken, it doesn’t need fixing! What’s next, are we going to change the three lions to three cats? Leave it alone!’
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When asked by his former Arsenal teammate Ray Parlour how players in England squads he’d been in the past would have taken to the flag change, Seaman said: ‘I had that situation when I wore that red kit for Euro 96, I said ‘have I got to wear that?”
After joking about his iconic multi-coloured kit, he continued: ‘But this is different, it’s the St George’s flag, leave it alone you know. I’m sure, if they’d have approached the lads and asked them about it, they would’ve said no.
‘I just don’t know how far down the line it goes before it gets past. Just leave it alone!’