Adidas will immediately halt the personalization of number 44 jerseys on Germany's new Euro 2024 kits due to Nazi symbol comparisons.
The new sans-serif lightning bolt font treatment Adidas applied to Germany's 2024 Euro kits makes it easy to double up the number 4 to recreate the Nazi Schutzstaffel “SS” symbol.
Historian Michael König spotted the eery resemblance and shared his thoughts on platform X.
“Historically it is very questionable to allow such jerseys for the home European Championship @DFB @adidas,” wrote König. His post spread like wildfire, garnering over 7.4 million views.
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The German FA (DFB) was quick to refute any correlation with “44” potentially manipulated by some far-right extremists as a Nazi symbol. The SS paramilitary organization operated Nazi Germany's death camps during the World War II era.
“None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the development process of the jersey design,” admitted the FA.
“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.”
The German sportswear brand Adidas released its own statement.
“Our company stands for the promotion of diversity and inclusion, and as a company we actively oppose xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence, and hatred in any form,” said the Herzogenaurach-based company.
“Any attempts to promote divisive or exclusionary views are not part of our values as a brand, and we firmly reject any suggestion that this was our intention. Our company stands for the promotion of diversity and inclusion.”
Consequently, the Adidas online store no longer lets fans personalize the kit with the “44” number. The brand is working on a replacement design for the number.
Currently, Bayer Leverkusen center-back Jonathan Tah sports the number 4 for the DFB team. UEFA, which reviewed the numbers 1-26 on the kits ahead of this summer's Euros, also missed the offensive 44 combination.
Last year, Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich released a kit that mimicked the one the team wore during the 1931/32 season under Nazi rule.
