MPs and public react to new England football shirt
The Football Association and Nike have come under fire for the design of England’s new home shirt, ahead of Euro 2024. The traditional white kit features a St George’s Cross with navy, light blue and purple. Nike say it is “a playful update”, but many fans and politicians have reacted with consternation and anger. Report by Jonesia. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
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00:00 It's just 12 weeks until Euro 2024 kicks off in Germany, and with it the chance for
00:07 the competing nations to show off their new kits.
00:13 On Monday, England launched their new men's Home and Away shirts to little fanfare.
00:18 However, one small detail on the famous white shirt has provoked a strong public response.
00:24 Previous iterations of the Three Lions shirt have featured England's flag, a red cross
00:29 on a white background.
00:30 This year, though, Nike have decided on what they call a playful update to the Cross of
00:35 St George to unite and inspire.
00:38 The Home shirt collar features a cross with navy, light blue and purple.
00:43 Nike say it's a nod to the training kit worn by England's 1966 World Cup winning team.
00:49 "I like it.
00:50 They sort of try and change it, make it a bit more modern each year.
00:54 A bit controversial, not having the red and white on the back, but I think it can grow
00:59 on us, particularly if we go on and do well in the championship this summer."
01:02 "I think it's a fun touch and it'll always be the St George's cross no matter what the
01:08 colour is."
01:09 However, the move has not been met with universal acclaim.
01:12 "I think it's just about trying to unite people, but I think the flag of St George's
01:18 shouldn't be messed with like that."
01:19 "Well, it doesn't look like a cross, a proper cross."
01:20 "I think they should keep the original flag on it, but get rid of that one, maybe keep
01:26 that new shirt."
01:27 "That's the traditional one I see, the red one, that's what I'd say."
01:31 Politicians too are having their say on Nike's creative license.
01:35 "Look, obviously I prefer the original and my general view is that when it comes to our
01:40 national flags we shouldn't mess with them because they're a source of pride, identity,
01:45 who we are and they're perfect as they are."
01:47 "So, I mean, I just think it's all a bit odd.
01:50 I mean, I don't understand why you can't have the St George's flag that looks like the St
01:53 George's flag.
01:54 I mean, what would the French make?
01:56 If you suddenly put, I don't know, bits of purple on the tricolour."
01:58 Emily Thornberry's party leader, Sakhir Starmer, told The Sun, "The flag is used by everybody.
02:04 It's unifying.
02:05 It doesn't need to change.
02:07 We just need to be proud of it."
02:09 Whilst Reform MP Lee Anderson put it as colourfully as Nike's new cross, "This virtue-signalling
02:15 namby-pamby pearl-clutching woke nonsense must stop.
02:18 Any more of this and I'll be on the first flight to Rwanda."
02:22 Nike currently manufacture the kits for other nations too.
02:25 France, Portugal, Poland and the Netherlands, none of which appear to feature their country's
02:30 national flag.
02:32 But equally, no playful updates on the team's colours either.
02:36 For those offended by a multi-coloured St George's cross, England do have a rather fetching
02:41 purple away number.
02:42 Whichever shirt you choose, it could end up setting you back £125.
02:47 (upbeat music)