Football

German football to change controversial kit number

Germany's Jonathan Tah (L) passes the ball ahead of France's Ousmane Dembele (R) during a friendly football match at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on March 23, 2024. Photo: AFP Files

The German Football Association (DFB) said Monday it would change the typeface used on its shirts after one of the kit numbers drew comparisons to a Nazi symbol.

The number four worn by national team players was said to bear a resemblance to the insignia of the Nazis' elite SS corps.

"The DFB checks the numbers 0-9 and then submits the numbers 1-26 to UEFA for review," the football association said in a statement.

"None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the creation process," the DFB said.

Nonetheless, the sporting body said it did not want to "provide a platform for discussion".

"Together with our partner 11teamsports, we will develop an alternative design for the number four and coordinate it with UEFA," the DFB said.

Kit provider Adidas removed shirt personalisation options for the German strip from its website on Monday afternoon, the German daily Bild reported.

The name and number personalisation features were not available when an AFP journalist visited the website on Monday evening.

Shirts with the number 44 were at the centre of the controversy, with the number set said to look most like the SS logo.

Deliveries of shirts already ordered with the number had been stopped, Bild reported.

The new typeset was worn in recent friendlies against France and the Netherlands, as Germany prepares to host the men's European football championship in June and July.

The DFB caused a stir last month when it announced that it would be replacing Adidas as its kit provider from 2027.

The German outfitter, which has supplied the national team since the 1950s, will make way for US sportswear giant Nike.

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German football to change controversial kit number

Germany's Jonathan Tah (L) passes the ball ahead of France's Ousmane Dembele (R) during a friendly football match at the Groupama Stadium in Decines-Charpieu, near Lyon, on March 23, 2024. Photo: AFP Files

The German Football Association (DFB) said Monday it would change the typeface used on its shirts after one of the kit numbers drew comparisons to a Nazi symbol.

The number four worn by national team players was said to bear a resemblance to the insignia of the Nazis' elite SS corps.

"The DFB checks the numbers 0-9 and then submits the numbers 1-26 to UEFA for review," the football association said in a statement.

"None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the creation process," the DFB said.

Nonetheless, the sporting body said it did not want to "provide a platform for discussion".

"Together with our partner 11teamsports, we will develop an alternative design for the number four and coordinate it with UEFA," the DFB said.

Kit provider Adidas removed shirt personalisation options for the German strip from its website on Monday afternoon, the German daily Bild reported.

The name and number personalisation features were not available when an AFP journalist visited the website on Monday evening.

Shirts with the number 44 were at the centre of the controversy, with the number set said to look most like the SS logo.

Deliveries of shirts already ordered with the number had been stopped, Bild reported.

The new typeset was worn in recent friendlies against France and the Netherlands, as Germany prepares to host the men's European football championship in June and July.

The DFB caused a stir last month when it announced that it would be replacing Adidas as its kit provider from 2027.

The German outfitter, which has supplied the national team since the 1950s, will make way for US sportswear giant Nike.

Comments

সংস্কার ও নির্বাচন প্রক্রিয়া নিয়ে চলতি মাসেই ঘোষণার ইঙ্গিত প্রধান উপদেষ্টার

জাতীয় নির্বাচনের আগে প্রয়োজনীয় সংস্কারের গুরুত্ব পুনর্ব্যক্ত করে প্রধান উপদেষ্টা ড. মুহাম্মদ ইউনূস চলতি মাসের শেষের দিকে সংস্কার ও নির্বাচন প্রক্রিয়া সম্পর্কে একটি ঘোষণার ইঙ্গিত দিয়েছেন।

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