Adidas, the famous sportswear brand, has found itself in a bit of a pickle recently.
Football fans eager to show their support for the German national team by donning their kit have hit a snag – they can no longer customize their shirts with the number 44.
Why? Well, it turns out that this particular number bears an unfortunate resemblance to a symbol associated with some pretty dark times in history – the Nazi SS units from World War Two.
Now, before you go scratching your head wondering what’s the fuss about a couple of numbers on a shirt, let’s unpack this.
The SS units were no ordinary bunch – they were the heavy hitters of the Nazi regime, responsible for some truly horrendous stuff during the war.
We’re talking about crimes against humanity, folks. So, you can see why Adidas might want to hit the brakes on letting fans slap that number on their jerseys.
According to a spokesperson from Adidas, they’ve put the kibosh on jersey personalization to avoid any unintentional nods to this grim chapter of history. Fair play, Adidas, fair play.
But wait, there’s more! The drama doesn’t end with the numbers. The new German kit also stirred the pot with its choice of pink for the away colors.
Now, some fans reckon pink is all about celebrating diversity, while others smell a rat, claiming it’s just a money-making scheme for the German Football Association (DFB).
Ah, the age-old debate of symbolism versus cash grabs.
Historian Michael König was quick to point out the uncanny resemblance between the kit’s design and those infamous Nazi symbols.
Adidas, however, denies any intentional connection, pledging allegiance to the fight against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and all-around nastiness.
Interestingly, the DFB and its buddies over at UEFA didn’t bat an eyelid during the kit design process.
They even submitted the designs for review, claiming they saw no red flags. Well, until the internet had its say, that is.
Now, in a move to nip this controversy in the bud, the DFB promises an alternative design for the number 4. Crisis averted? Maybe.
But hold onto your hats, folks, because there’s more drama brewing.
The DFB is ditching Adidas in favour of Nike from 2027, much to the chagrin of Economy Minister Robert Habeck, who’s waving the flag of patriotism. Looks like the game of jersey politics is heating up.
In the meantime, as Germany gear up to host this year’s European Football Championship, it seems the real competition is happening off the field.
