FOOTBALL legends had their say today over the “revived” replica England kits – with one asking: “Will they change the Three Lions to the Three Cats?”
Nike has revealed it has changed the St George’s cross using purple and blue horizontal stripes in what it called a “playful update” to the shirt ahead of Euro 2024.
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Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton said he was ‘totally against’ the new kit
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Harry Redknapp called that shirt ‘the worst own goal ever’Credit: PA: Press Association
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Nike has revealed that it has changed the St George cross using purple and blue horizontal stripes Credit: Nike/X
The US company said the colors were inspired by the training kit worn by England’s 1966 World Cup winners.
Some football pundits and fans have criticized the shirt’s design and price since it was launched earlier this week.
But the FA has no intention of withdrawing England’s new kit despite the ongoing controversy, according to reports.
Now football legends such as Harry Redknapp, Peter Shilton and David Seaman have had their say on the saga.
Redknapp called the decision an “absolute disgrace” this morning.
He said: “I’ve seen plenty of own goals in my time but this has got to be the worst ever.
“Who on earth thought this was a good idea? It’s a St. George’s cross, red and white… would Nike do this with another country’s national flag?
“It’s something that should be respected, not changed for a bit of playful fun, as they say.
“It’s an absolute disgrace in my book – I hope they realize and think about it.”
Former England goalkeeper Shilton also had his say – he announced that he was “totally against” the new kit.
He told GB News: “I’m totally against it, which I don’t think is a surprise. I mean, I’m a traditionalist, really.
England’s best and worst jerseys
“I think we’ve seen quite a few design changes on the shirts, which is to get the fans to buy a new shirt every time it changes.
“But now they’re messing with the colors on the national flag and you know where it’s going to stop once it starts?
“Will the next jersey have more color changes? So I’m against it, I think it’s wrong.
“It’s just a small change, but I think it could be the start of more changes.
“That’s the way I look at it, when you start changing colors. I mean, the Three Lions is obviously traditional and the fans love it.
“I’m very surprised to be honest that the FA agreed to this but it’s all about money and making money and if the shirt sponsor says look ‘we’d like to do it’ then sometimes you get members of the FA who think, ‘Well, we’re good paid for it.’ ‘You know, we won’t bother’.
Controversy over England’s jersey change
The latest Three Lions tape came under heavy criticism after a sudden change.
The three lion stripes were unveiled on Monday with the traditional red cross changed to navy blue, light blue and purple.
But Nike and the FA have “no plans” to withdraw England’s new home kit over a row over the altered St. John’s flag. George.
Both the home and away kits were released earlier this week and England will debut them during the upcoming international matches in March.
It is thought to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit – which featured blue, red and purple.
The change led to some labeling the shirt “revived” as they called for the manufacturer to revert to the usual colors.
But according to The Mail, Nike will not bow to pressure from some English fans.
It is thought to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit – which featured blue, red and purple.
The change led to some labeling the shirt “revived” as they called for the manufacturer to revert to the usual colors.
But according to The Mail, Nike will not bow to pressure from some English fans.
The flag change is understood to be the work of a Nike designer, but has also been signed off by the FA.
And the FA insist the decision was made to “respect the classic 1966 training kit color scheme”.
The new kit releases are one of the highlights of the build-up to the summer tournament, but England fans have also been left frustrated by the cost of the new Three Lions kits.
England’s “authentic” European Championship home and away shirts cost £124.99 for adults and a staggering £119.99 for children.
“But I think the precedent is that we don’t want, you know, other things to suddenly change on the next England shirt, and you know maybe, you know the pink strip that goes around the middle of the shirt – I mean you I don’t know what they’re going to change.”
England’s most capped men’s player, 74, also criticized the cost of the new kit.
The “authentic” version costs £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for children, while the “stadium” version is £84.99 and £64.99 for children.
Shilton continued: “I think the price of the shirts is becoming extortionate now as well. I think the fans are being ripped off in a way.
“I think it will be very difficult for parents if they have several children to buy them a new shirt, that’s why they are making these changes.”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also criticized the new kit.
Colin Robertson says… shame on them
BY Colin Robertson
So that’s it then?
Now we should be ashamed of our national flag for the one event that almost everyone could agree on its use?
The decision by the American company Nike to turn our simple flag on the New England jersey into some kind of patriotic fluid symbol is the epitome of cultural war vandalism.
Tradition and history do not play well with greedy corporate companies. They like nonsensical bitches who “represent everything” and don’t offend anyone.
Some millennial wazzock with a doctorate in wokeism will no doubt point out five reasons why the cross of St. George is just a vulgar symbol of oppression.
It is much better to slowly eradicate it and create something new and meaningless and then pretend that it is progressing.
And hey, their corporate clients, usually paranoid of offense, will thank them for it.
Just like FA did, stuck in his own current. Shame on them. Because the idea that this bastardization is, as Nike claimed, merely a “playful update of the St. George flag… to unify and inspire” is grossly offensive.
What unites more than following the national football team while proudly wearing the flag of your country?
We do not want or need a new flag, playful or otherwise, to represent England. We already have one cross of Saint George?
He’d be fucking furious.
He said: “Obviously I prefer the original, and my general view is that when it comes to our national flags, they should not be messed with.
“Because they are a source of pride, of identity, of who we are, and they are perfect just the way they are.”
Meanwhile, former England goalkeeper Seaman, who played 75 times for his country, said “leave it alone”.
He said, “It doesn’t need to be fixed. What’s next, is it going to change the Three Lions to the Three Cats? Let it go.
I’m not even sure I can properly explain why they thought they needed to change it in the first place.
Keir Starmer
“It’s a St. George flag. Leave it. I’m sure if they approached the boys and asked them about it, they’d say no. Leave it.”
Adrian Bevington, former FA chief executive, said he would not sign the shirt.
He told TalkSPORT: “I think it’s an emotive subject and it’s always challenged the assumptions that we have.
“I always try to look at it from all sides and I understand from Nike’s perspective that they want to always try to be top-notch and as modern as possible in the different markets they serve.”
Bevington, however, said it was “our flag”.
He continued: “When it’s played, especially during the tournament, you’ll see the stadium completely flooded with St George’s crosses hanging everywhere.
“It’s a national identity and I just don’t think it should be changed. And it’s going to upset a lot of people because people really feel passionate about this.”
What did Nike say?
A Nike spokesperson told The Mail: “The England 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.
“The regions on the cuffs resemble the training gear worn by England’s heroes in 1966, with a transition of blue and red with purple.
“The same colors have the interpretation of the flag of St. George on the back of the collar.”
But he added: “Maybe he’ll end up selling more kits for them, who knows, it could take off commercially with the premise he’s created.
“If I was in a position to sign it or not, I wouldn’t personally sign it.”
Brian Deane, who played as a striker from 1985 to 2006, labeled the shirt “ridiculous”.
He told The Sun: “Some people would say it’s just a small detail, but personally I think there are some things that just need to be kept as they are.
“Sometimes when you’re trying to progress and develop, it doesn’t always sit well with everyone, and certainly from the point of view of someone like me who played for England, the St George’s Cross was always red, and a lot of older people of a generation will take offense to that. I can understand why .
“I don’t see why there’s a need to change that. It’s almost like you’re trying to erase the way things were in the past and I don’t think that’s appropriate in this case.
“It’s very symbolic for a lot of people in this country and for whatever reason, branding or fashion, I don’t think it’s relevant and I think they scored an own goal to be honest.
“It’s just something that people are going to feel like their rights have been violated and it’s pretty inflammatory as you can see from the reaction.”
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer called on Nike to change the color back to its traditional red.
He said he believed the flag was a “unifier” and insisted the sports brand should “reconsider” the decision to change it.
Sir Keir told The Sun: “I’m a huge football fan, I go to England games, men’s and women’s games, and everyone uses the flag.
“It’s a unifier, you don’t need to change it, you just need to be proud of it.
“So I think they should reconsider and change this. I’m not even sure I can properly explain why they thought they needed to change it in the first place.”
The Labor leader also called on Nike to lower the price.
A Nike spokesperson previously told the media: “The England 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.
“The regions on the cuffs resemble the training gear worn by England’s heroes in 1966, with a transition of blue and red with purple.
“The same colors have the interpretation of the Saint George flag on the back of the collar.”
According to The Mail, Nike will not bow to pressure from some England fans to make the switch.
A Nike spokesperson said: “The England 2024 Home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.
“The regions on the cuffs resemble the training gear worn by England’s heroes in 1966, with a transition of blue and red with purple.
“The same colors have the interpretation of the flag of St. George on the back of the collar.”
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David Seaman, who played 75 times for his country, said ‘leave it’
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Some Three Lions fans have called for the jersey to be changed Credit: Twitter / England
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Sir Keir Starmer criticizes FA and Nike for changing football strips Credit: Darren Fletcher
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The badge is said to have been modified to honor the training equipment of 1966. Credit: PA
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education