LONDON – British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that “we shouldn’t mess with” national flags, as he waded into a row over a new England football shirt designed by Nike that changed the colours of the St George’s Cross.
The US sportswear giant altered the appearance of the Cross – the flag of England – using purple and blue horizontal stripes in what it called a “playful update” to the shirt ahead of Euro 2024, which starts in June.
Nike and the Football Association (FA) said the colours on the back of the collar – different from the traditional red cross on a white background – were inspired by the training kit worn by England’s 1966 World Cup winners.
But the decision has led to a furious backlash from some fans and former players, with leading politicians weighing in.
Mr Sunak – a fan of Championship side Southampton – said he “prefers the original” England shirt.
“My general view is that when it comes to our national flags, we shouldn’t mess with them,” he said on March 22. “Because they are a source of pride, identity, who we are, and they’re perfect as they are.”
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer, whose remit includes sport, said the FA and its kit partner had failed to put fans first.
“Our national heritage – including St George’s Cross – brings us together. Toying with it is pointless and unnecessary,” she said on X.
Keir Starmer, the leader of Britain’s main opposition Labour party and an Arsenal supporter, called on Nike to “reconsider” its decision.
“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,” he told The Sun newspaper.
In a statement later following Mr Sunak’s comments, Nike said it “was never its intention to offend” but did not indicate any plans to change the kit design.
“We have been a proud partner of the FA since 2012 and understand the significance and importance of the St George’s Cross and it was never our intention to offend, given what it means to England fans,” it said.
“Together with the FA, the intention was to celebrate the heroes of 1966 and their achievements.
“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 on the back of the collar.”
England manager Gareth Southgate downplayed the debate, saying that the crucial element of the England shirt is, in fact, the Three Lions.
“I don’t know if the debate is about the flag needing to be on the England shirt, because obviously it hasn’t always been,” he said.
“The most important thing that has to be on an England shirt are the Three Lions. It’s our iconic symbol. It is what distinguishes us not only from football teams around the world but from England rugby and England cricket.
“Should we be tampering with the cross of St George? In my head if it’s not a red cross on a white background, then it’s not the cross of St George anyway. It’s presumably some artistic take which I’m not creative enough to understand.”
On a separate issue, the England boss also insisted he will not listen to job offers until after Euro 2024, as he slammed speculation linking him to Manchester United as “completely disrespectful” to current Dutch manager Erik ten Hag.
Southgate’s England contract expires in December and he is yet to agree to a new deal.
“I think there are two things from my point of view. One is that I’m the England manager – I’ve got one job, basically, to try and deliver a European Championship,” he said.
“And the second thing is Manchester United have a manager and I think it’s always completely disrespectful when there’s any speculation about a manager that’s in place.” AFP, REUTERS
