The German Football Association (DFB), under pressure from social media backlash, is set to redesign the national football team’s jersey after protests that its numbers 4 and 44 resembled the logo of the infamous SS paramilitary group.
The reason for this decision was social media users’ appeal for modification to be made to the jersey with the number “44” in particular.
The DFB addressed the issue in a recent statement on X. Despite UEFA’s exhaustive examination, which found no evidence of Nazi iconography, the DFB is creating a substitute design.
Nazi Backlash
The men’s and women’s teams of Germany will wear the new jerseys introduced by the DFB in late March. The 2024 UEFA European Championship, which Germany is hosting this summer, will see the men’s team wear the jerseys for the first time, as they did in a match against France.
The announcement by the DFB that Nike will take over as the official shirt supplier from Adidas starting in 2027 increased the anticipation. This puts an end to a lengthy collaboration that began in the 1950s and saw Adidas provide the national team with clothing for each of their four World Cup wins.
Adidas decided to stop offering personalized shirts due to criticism on social media about the numbers’ similarity to the divisive SS emblem, which is connected to the reign of Adolf Hitler.
The SS is still a powerful representation of historical evil, having been implicated in several Nazi crimes, notably the administration of extermination camps like Auschwitz. Adidas’ answer demonstrates their dedication to cultural sensitivity and awareness in modern branding techniques.
Cover Photo: IG