England boss Sarina Wiegman labels new home kit ‘very beautiful’ after Nike’s modified St George’s Cross was slammed by critics as ‘woke’ and ‘dumb’… as the Lionesses’ prepare for Euro 2025 qualifiers

Lionesses’ manager Sarina Wiegman has described the new England kit as ‘very beautiful’ despite controversy over the altered version of the St George’s cross displayed on the collar.

The Football Association and manufacturers Nike have come under criticism from some corners for the design, which features navy, light blue and purple colours instead of red and white.

Nike described the design as a ‘playful update’ on the St George’s flag and claimed it was a reference to England’s 1966 World Cup winners.

But several fans and commentators were unhappy, branding the kit ‘woke’ and ‘dumb’.

Asked about the controversy around the kit design, Wiegman said: ‘Yes there has been a lot of discussions around that.

‘I think the kit is very, very beautiful. It looks really good. I always really like the crest (badge), the beautiful one.

‘Of course we have that white one (shirt) so I would like to keep it with that.

‘I’m happy with that, we’re playing in it. There’s some new things in the kit that will help performance wise which I like. I’m looking forward to seeing the team in it.’

The England manager went on to explain that the shirt will help control players’ sweat levels during matches.

Wiegman was also asked about player-coach relationships in the women’s game following recent controversy.

Leicester suspended manager Willie Kirk earlier this month over an alleged relationship with a player while Sheffield United sacked Jonathan Morgan for the same reasons in February.

Wiegman made it clear that she believes relationships between coaches and players cross the line and should not happen.

‘I think player-coach relationships are very inappropriate,’ Wiegman said. ‘I think we should not accept that.

‘That’s not healthy. That is basically what it is. I think in our environment, it’s a professional environment, it is all about performing and it should always be safe.

‘Things can happen but it’s inappropriate and we all should be very aware of that.

‘It is common sense. We all know that if we are in this environment, that is really inappropriate. I think if we all take our responsibility, then things wouldn’t happen.

‘But when it happens too often, then you need regulation. I’ll leave that up to other ones. I just hope in every environment I work in, in how we work and we always talk about safe environments, this is one of the things that should be really safe, that everyone’s really aware of the responsibility we have.’

Wiegman was speaking after naming her squad for next month’s Euro 2025 qualifiers with Sweden and the Republic of Ireland.

Leah Williamson is in line to make her long awaited comeback after pulling out of last month’s squad due to a hamstring injury. The England captain has not played for her country since rupturing her ACL in April last year.

There has been plenty of discussion on the congested calendar in the women’s game, with England facing qualifiers in June and July.

Arsenal have come under fire for organising a post-season trip to Australia, with a friendly taking place on May 24 – just a week before the Lionesses play France on May 31.

Wiegman admitted she was surprised and concerned about the club’s trip and the short turnaround for players but added that she has had good conversations with Arsenal.

‘The competition (WSL) finishes at the end of May, then there’s one week in between and then we go into the international break. I think for all the players with the already complicated calendar, it’s not good for them to go to the other side of the world, very short term, not having the time to adapt and play a game and come back and go for us in two games against France, home and away.

‘But I would say that’s not only for the English players, that’s for every European player that goes into the qualifiers. That’s the thing that will be hard for them to take and to perform at the highest level.

‘We had conversations already with Arsenal about the summer and those have been very good conversations. We’re on the same page and, of course, we all think about how to get players fit and fresh to compete but also give them rest in this complex calendar. I heard later on from that.

‘Of course, I’m in contact with Jonas [Eidevall] all the time, so I also spoke about these concerns. They haven’t announced yet, who is going, who’s not. I think, in general, everyone who plays competitive games in whichever team that would go all the way to the other side of the world, I think that’s hard to take for players in that period and then going into qualifiers.’

‘I think this is a matter of Arsenal. The last thing I will do is dictate the club or dictate the coach. That’s not my job and that’s not what I want to do. I think this is a wider thing and Arsenal hasn’t announced the team yet, so I don’t know who is going. I’m the England coach, but this is wider.

‘Let’s take away Arsenal, the club would go and you have all international players from different countries, then I think for all these players who are playing competitive games in June with their country, that will be a hard one to take.’