Adidas has decided to withdraw from sale the number 44 of the shirts of the German team for the Euro Cup and the national football federation (DFB) and has announced that it will change the design of the number 4. The firm has thus reacted to those who criticize the similarity of those numbers with forbidden Nazi symbols like the SS.
Critics insist that 44 resembles the forbidden rune of the SS and that the number 4 is reminiscent of the simple rune of victory, which during the Nazi regime (1933-1945) was the emblem of the Hitler Youth, has reported this Monday the newspaper Bild, the most read in Germany.
The similarity has been detected on social networks and strongly criticized.
The DFB has told Bild that it is “in talks with ’11Teamsports’ to develop an alternative design for the number four font and then officially adapt it in coordination with UEFA.”
Number 14 will also be changed, and no player will wear number 44, since the shirts will be numbered from 1 to 23 in the Euro Cup.
In the last friendly matches of the German team in France (0-2) and against the Netherlands at home (2-1), Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah wore number 4 and debutant Maximilian Beier, number 14.
Bild has wondered how it was possible that the DFB had not noticed the resemblance to the SS symbol before. The German Federation has responded that it verified the numbers 0 to 9 and then sent the numbers 1 to 26 to UEFA for review. Both tests were approved, he stressed.
“None of the parties involved saw any proximity to the symbolism of National Socialism in the development process of the shirt design,” the DFB said, before adding that “only the public discussion that there could be a visual proximity is sufficient for a process of change begins.”
Previously, Adidas spokesperson Oliver Brüggen had explained that it was not the sporting goods company, but the DFB, that was responsible for the design of the numbers.
“The DFB and its partner 11Teamsports are responsible for the design of the names and numbers.”
In any case, Adidas has removed number 44 from the online store and this number is no longer listed for sale in the official DFB store either.
In recent weeks, Adidas and the DFB have appeared in the media headlines several times. First with the presentation of the new shirts, since especially the pink and purple away kit was a topic of conversation in Germany.
However, with the impetus of an advertising campaign, it achieved the best sales start for a DFB jersey.
A few days later, the DFB announced that it was changing its kit supplier for more than 70 years, Adidas, to the American Nike starting in 2027, sparking some criticism for an alleged lack of patriotism in society and among some ministers, such as the vice chancellor. , Robert Habeck, and that of Health, Karl Lauterbach.
