Adidas say the DFB are responsible for the design of numbers (Picture: Adidas/Getty)
Adidas have removed the number 44 from Germany’s shirt due to concerns over Nazi symbology and insist they are ‘against violence and hatred in all forms’.
Germany host Euro 2024 this summer but their Adidas-designed kit went viral on social media for all the wrong reasons with fans highlighting the vital design flaw.
The number 44 on Germany’s shirt has some resemblance to the symbol used by World War Two-era Nazi SS units – largely responsible for various crimes against humanity – including the Holocaust.
Adidas ‘strongly reject any suggestions’ it was intentional and have decided to block personalisation of shirts, banning fans from buying kits with the number 44, while they also claim that the DFB are the ones responsible for the controversy.
‘The DFB (German FA) and its partner 11teamsports are responsible for the design of the names and numbers,’ Adidas spokesperson Oliver Bruggen told Bild.
‘We have blocked personalization of the jerseys in our online store.
‘People from around 100 nations work at adidas, our company stands for the promotion of diversity and inclusion, and as a company we actively campaign against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in all forms.
The DFB say an alternative design for the number four will be developed (Picture: Getty)
‘Any attempts to promote divisive or exclusionary views are not part of our values as a brand and we strongly reject any suggestions that this was our intention.
‘Our company stands for promoting diversity and inclusion.’
Historian Michael Konig first raised the symbolism issue and felt that the design was ‘very questionable’.
Germany are set to host the Euro 2024 tournament this summer (Picture: Getty)
The DFB, meanwhile, has confirmed that an alternative design for the number four will be developed.
They also claimed UEFA reviewed the design process and that ‘none of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism’.
More Trending
Adidas has been the manufacturer of Germany’s jerseys since the 1950s but the DFB have decided to dump them for Nike, starting from 2027, which has caused a political row in the country.
Economy Minister Robert Habeck said he would have ‘liked a bit more local patriotism’ while Health Minister Karl Lauterbach labelled the decision ‘wrong’.