FAST DOWNLOAD
The design for the No.4 on Germany’s new adidas kit has been changed to avoid comparisons with Nazi symbolism.
The German Football Federation (DFB) and adidas decided to remove and redesign the previous No.4 they were going to use at Euro 2024 as there were concerns the No.44 resembled the symbol used by Nazi ‘SS’ (Siegrune) units. The new No.4 font design came to light when Bibiane Schulze Solano came off the bench to play in Germany women’s 3-2 win over Austria in a Euro 2025 qualifier on Friday night.
Adidas and the DFB stressed any suggestions this was intended are false and both stood for inclusion and tolerance.
Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen told news agency DPA: “People from around 100 countries work at Adidas. Our company stands for the promotion of diversity and inclusion, and as a company we actively campaign against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in all forms. Any attempts to promote divisive or exclusionary views are not part of our values as a brand.”
Now this change has been made, all parties can move on from this episode.
A statement posted on the official DFB account on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this week reads: “The DFB checks the numbers 0-9 and then submits the numbers 1-26 to UEFA for review. None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the development process of the jersey design. Nevertheless, we take the information very seriously and do not want to provide a platform for discussions. Together with our partner 11teamsports, we will develop an alternative design for the number 4 and coordinate it with UEFA.”
Following these off-field controversies, Germany’s women’s team take on Iceland on Tuesday in their second Euro 2025 qualifier while the men’s team will next wear the new shirts in friendlies against Ukraine and Greece in June before Euro 2024 begins later that month on home soil.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60)
Adidas and the DFB stressed any suggestions this was intended are false and both stood for inclusion and tolerance.
Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen told news agency DPA: "People from around 100 countries work at Adidas. Our company stands for the promotion of diversity and inclusion, and as a company we actively campaign against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in all forms. Any attempts to promote divisive or exclusionary views are not part of our values as a brand."
Now this change has been made, all parties can move on from this episode.
A statement posted on the official DFB account on X, formerly Twitter, earlier this week reads: "The DFB checks the numbers 0-9 and then submits the numbers 1-26 to UEFA for review. None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the development process of the jersey design. Nevertheless, we take the information very seriously and do not want to provide a platform for discussions. Together with our partner 11teamsports, we will develop an alternative design for the number 4 and coordinate it with UEFA."
Following these off-field controversies, Germany's women's team take on Iceland on Tuesday in their second Euro 2025 qualifier while the men's team will next wear the new shirts in friendlies against Ukraine and Greece in June before Euro 2024 begins later that month on home soil.
