FOOTBALL legends have today weighed in on the England replica shirt row – with one dubbing it the “worst own goal ever”.
Nike revealed it had altered St George’s Cross using purple and blue horizontal stripes in what it called a “playful update” to the shirt ahead of Euro 2024.
The US firm said the colours were inspired by the training kit worn by England‘s 1966 World Cup winners.
Some football pundits and fans criticised the design and price of the shirt since it was launched earlier this week.
Now footie legends like Harry Redknapp, Peter Shilton and David Seaman have had their say on the saga.
Redknapp this morning blasted the decision as “an absolute disgrace”.
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He slammed: “I’ve seen plenty of own goals in my time, but this has to be the worst ever.
“Who on earth thought this was a good idea? It’s the cross of St George, 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 put it.
“In my book it’s an absolute disgrace – I hope they see sense and have a rethink.”
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Former England goalkeeper Shilton also has his say – announcing he was “totally against” the new shirt.
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.
“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’.
England shirt change controversy
The latest Three Lions strip came under heavy fire after a sudden change.
The Three Lions’ strips were unveiled on Monday with the traditional red cross altered to one with navy, light blue and purple.
But Nike and the FA have “no plans” to recall the new England home kit amid a row over its altered St George’s flag.
Both the home and away kits were released earlier this week, with England set to debut them during the upcoming March internationals.
It is thought to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit – which contained blue, red and purple.
The change led to some labelling the shirt “woke” as they called on the manufacturer to revert back to the usual colours.
But according to The Mail, Nike will not succumb to pressure from some England fans.
It is thought to be a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners’ training kit – which contained blue, red and purple.
The change led to some labelling the shirt “woke” as they called on the manufacturer to revert back to the usual colours.
But according to The Mail, Nike will not succumb to pressure from some England fans.
It is understood the flag alteration was the work of a Nike designer, but was also signed off by the FA.
And the FA insist the decision was made to “honour the classic colour regime of 1966 training gear”.
New kit releases are one of the highlights in the build-up to a summer tournament, but England fans have also been left frustrated by the cost of the Three Lions’ new jerseys.
England’s “authentic” home and away shirts for the European Championships have been priced at £124.99 for adults and a whopping £119.99 for children.
“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.”
England’s most capped men’s player, 74, also criticised the price of the new shirt.
An “authentic” version costs £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for children while a “stadium” version is £84.99 and £64.99 for children.
Shilton continued: “I do think also the cost of the shirts now is getting extortionate. I think the fans are getting ripped off in a way.
“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.”
Meanwhile former England goalie Seaman, who played 75 times for his country, said “leave it alone”.
He said: “It doesn’t need fixing. What’s next, are they going to change the Three Lions to three cats? Leave it alone.
I’m not even sure they can properly explain why they thought they needed to change it in the first place.
Keir Starmer
“It’s the St George’s Flag. Leave it alone. I’m sure that if they’d approached the lads and asked them about it, they would have said no. Just leave it alone.”
It comes after Sir Keir Starmer called on Nike to change the colour back to the traditional red.
He said he believed the flag was a “unifier” and insisted the sporting brand should “reconsider” the decision to modify it.
Sir Keir told The Sun: “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.”
The Labour leader also called on Nike to reduce the price.
A Nike spokesperson previously told media outlets: “The England 2024 home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.
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“The trim on the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped with purple.
“The same colours also feature an interpretation of the flag of St George on the back of the collar.”
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Jonathan Rose
