Should Nike change back the new St George's cross on England shirt?

Critics have demanded Nike reconsiders its 'playful update' of the St George's cross on the new England football shirt.

Emily Cleary
·5-min read
Nike has embroidered a multicoloured cross on the collar of the new England football kit to replace the St George cross of the national flag. (Nike/X)
Nike has embroidered a multicoloured cross on the collar of the new England football kit to replace the St George cross of the national flag. (Nike/X)

Football fans and politicians have weighed in on Nike's new England football shirt after the sportswear giant replaced the red St George cross on the collar with a multicoloured one.

While Nike announced the change as a "playful update to the [cross] of St. George" designed to "unite and inspire," many have criticised the move as one that will stop them from buying the kit.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak has also chimed in, stating that the flag should not be tampered with, while opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer has gone so far as to call for the entire kit to be recalled.

Sunak said on Friday: “Obviously I prefer the original, and my general view is that when it comes to our national flags, we shouldn’t mess with them."

Starmer backed the criticism, telling The Sun: "As you know, I'm a big football fan. I go to England games - men's 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 - so, I think they should just reconsider this and change it back."

The FA has defended the design, saying that it was “not the first time” that different coloured St George’s Cross-inspired designs have appeared on England shirts.

Nike have cited the 1966 World Cup team's training kit as inspiration for a colour change of the George Cross. (Getty)
Nike have cited the 1966 World Cup team's training kit as inspiration for a colour change of the George Cross. (Getty)

An FA spokesperson said: “The new England 2024 home kit has a number of design elements which were meant as a tribute to the 1966 World Cup-winning team.

“The coloured trim on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the same colours also feature on the design on the back of the collar. It is not the first time that different coloured St George’s Cross-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.

“We are very proud of the red and white St George’s cross – the England flag.

A spokesperson for Nike issued a statement explaining the move, adding: "The England 2024 Home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic."

On top of the design issues, Starmer and others have slammed the brand for the price fans are asked to pay for the kit.

A home team shirt for both men and women 'player shirt' costs £124.99 on the Nike website.

Starmer said: "One more thing on that for me, they could also reduce the price of the shirts - I think it's £130."

England supporter Sir Keir Starmer has called for the St George flag to be returned to its original red colour. (Getty Images)
England supporter Sir Keir Starmer has called for the St George flag to be returned to its original red colour. (Getty Images)

A petition calling for Nike to reinstate the traditional red George Cross has collected more than 15,000 signatures. The petition, started by someone calling themselves Alfred Ramsay, in homage to the 1966 World Cup-winning England manager, reads: "This millennium-old piece of heraldry has been identified with the English for centuries. It speaks to the heroic resolve of our patron Saint George, the pride taken in overcoming evildoers in great acts of service, and the ancient Christian tradition of this land and people. It is a symbol that encapsulates the virtues that make us English, and which characterise this nation on the international stage."

It continues with a polite request to "please change the shirt" after criticising the FA for endorsing the "political" spin, saying: "It is hard to view this move as anything short of political. While the FA may think that this move distances English football from nationalist elements, it does not take a political eye to see that this is divisive."

Radio host, and former Crystal Palace owner, Simon Jordan said: "No other country would allow this to happen."

The Mail columnist added: "‘I don’t quite understand why Nike want to have a playful brief on our identity. I don’t understand why we would want to do this. Is our national identity a joke, is it something we’re ashamed of? Our national identity is something we should be proud of. I don’t find this offensive. I find it unnecessary."

Former player and manager Chris Sutton labelled the move "such a load of b*****s". He said: "To unite and what? Inspire. To unite and inspire by changing a flag? So it's not the Cross of St George."

Shadow Attorney-General Emily Thornberry described the new design as "a bit weird". "Imagine putting a bit of purple on the Irish tricolour", she told BBC Breakfast. "Why are we messing around with it? I don't understand."

Former leader of the UKIP party Nigel Farage told his GB News viewers: "It’s a multi-coloured cross, it bears no relationship to the cross of St George whatsoever. Why on earth would you be apologetic for Englishness if you're playing for England?"

Despite the criticism, neither the FA nor Nike are planning to change the St George’s cross on the new kits.

According to MailOnline, the FA "completely stands by" the new shirt, and it is said to have ‘flown off the shelves" since it was unveiled on Monday.

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