FA release statement on England kit controversy after Nike changed colours of St George's Cross

FA release statement on England kit controversy after Nike changed colours of St George's Cross

WATCH NOW: Peter Shilton fumes after Nike change St George's Cross on England shirt

Jack Otway

By Jack Otway


Published: 22/03/2024

- 15:03

Updated: 22/03/2024

- 17:33

The Three Lions are set to wear their new home shirt against Brazil on Saturday night

The FA have released a statement after a huge backlash surrounding the new England home shirt.

Nike have caused controversy by changing the colours of the St George's Cross, which is traditionally red with a white background, with the sportswear giants tweaking the colours to blue and purple instead.


The people of Britain have been left furious by the decision, while several England football icons have condemned Nike's decision to change the traditional colours.

But the FA have now released a statement defending the decision, with a spokesperson saying: "The new England 2024 Home kit has a number of design elements which were meant as a tribute to the 1966 World Cup winning team.

St George's Cross

England's new kit has sparked controversy with Nike changing the colours of the St George's Cross

ENGLANDFOOTBALL/NIKE

"The coloured trim on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the same colours also feature on the design on the back of the collar.

"It is not the first time that different coloured St George’s cross-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.

"We are very proud of the red and white St George’s cross – the England flag.

"We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be displayed prominently at Wembley tomorrow – as it always is – when England play Brazil."

The statement from the Football Association has come after criticism from both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer.

Do you think the England flag should be on the England football shirt? YOUR VERDICT

Do you think the England flag should be on the England football shirt? YOUR VERDICT

GB News

The Prime Minister said: "Obviously, I prefer the original and my general view is when it comes to our national flags we shouldn't mess with them because they are a source of pride, identity, who we are and they are perfect as we are."

And Starmer weighed in by saying: "I'm a big football fan, I go to England games, men and women's games, and the flag is used by everybody.

"It is a unifier. It doesn't need to be changed. We just need to be proud of it.

"So, I think they should just reconsider this and change it back.

"I'm not even sure they can properly explain why they thought they needed to change it in the first place."

Speaking earlier on Friday, England icon Peter Shilton condemned Nike's decision.

He told GB News: "I am totally against it, which I don't think is a surprise. I mean I am a traditionalist, really.

"I think we have seen a lot of design changes on shirts and that's to get the fans to buy the new shirt every time it changes.

"But now they are messing with the colours on a national flag and you know, where would it stop once it starts?

"Is the next shirt going to have more changes in the colour? So I am against it, I think it is wrong.

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England kit

England are set to wear their new kit with the altered St George's Cross for tomorrow's friendly clash against Brazil

GETTY

"It is only a small change, but I think it could be the start of more changes.

"That's the way I look on it, once you start changing the colour. I mean the Three Lions is obviously traditional and the fans love that.

"I am very surprised to be fair 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 this' then sometimes you get maybe members at the FA who think, 'Oh well, we are getting paid well for it.' 'You know, we won't bother'.

"But I think it is a precedent that we don't want, you know, other things to suddenly change on the next England shirt, and you know maybe, you know a pink band going round the middle of the shirt - I mean you don't know do you what they are going to change."

The new England shirts don't come cheap, with adults facing paying £124.99 to get their hands on an 'authentic' version.

England under21s

England's Under-21s have already worn the controversial new kit in their 5-1 win over Azerbaijan on Friday

GETTY

And Shilton has condemned the price tag of the strip, too.

"I do think also the cost of the shirts now is getting extortionate. I think the fans are getting ripped off in a way," he continued.

"I think it is going to be very difficult for parents if they have got a couple of kids to buy them each a new shirt, that's why they make these changes."

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