Germany fans have been banned from purchasing one version of the nation's home kit for Euro 2024. The Adidas release, which was unveiled last month, has been thrown into the spotlight after it was uncovered that the font chosen for numbering on the kit makes the number 44 look like Nazi symbolism from World War Two.
The number 44 is said to match the symbol used by the Nazi's Schutzstaffel group (the SS) who were responsible for running several concentration camps during the war. They were the group that operated Auschwitz, where more than a million people were killed.
The SS symbol is banned in Germany due to its connotations with the heinous crimes committed by the Nazis in the first half of the 20th century and due to the resemblance, the number 44 shirt is now unavailable for purchase.
Historisch gesehen sehr fragwürdig solche Trikots zur HeimEM zu ermöglichen @DFB @adidas pic.twitter.com/KE69jAyIQ9
— Michael König (@08MiKowitsch15) March 29, 2024
The German Football Federation (DFB) have confirmed they are now looking for a new design for the number 4. Posting on X, they said:
“The DFB checks the numbers 0-9 and then submits the numbers 1-26 to UEFA for review. None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the development process of the jersey design.
“Nevertheless, we take the information very seriously and do not want to provide a platform for discussions. Together with our partner 11teamsports, we will develop an alternative design for the number 4 and coordinate it with UEFA.”
A ‘questionable' decision
Concerns around the number 44 design were first raised by historian, Michael Konig who said that it would be ‘very questionable to allow such jerseys for the home European Championship'. The issue then gained traction, forcing DFB and Adidas into a re-think. An Adidas spokesperson said:
“People from around 100 countries work at Adidas. Our company stands for the promotion of diversity and inclusion, and as a company, we actively campaign against xenophobia, antisemitism, violence and hatred in all forms. Any attempts to promote divisive or exclusionary views are not part of our values as a brand.”
The issue is the second one relating to Germany's kit designs for Euro 2024. DFB and Adidas ave also faced some backlash for designing a pink away kit for the nation, despite it being used to promote and celebrate diversity in the country.