FA defends multicoloured cross on England shirt as tribute to 1966 team

The Football Association has defended the multicoloured St George’s Cross on the back of England’s new shirts, saying it was part of a tribute to the team that won the World Cup in 1966.

The design on the back of the collar has been criticised, with Rishi Sunak among those on Friday to speak out against it. Nike said on Thursday the “playful update” was meant to “unite and inspire” fans for the 2024 European Championship but the FA offered a different perspective on Friday.

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“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,” an FA spokesperson said. “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. We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be displayed prominently at Wembley tomorrow – as it always is – when England play Brazil.”

Different coloured St George’s Crosses were used on a 2011 England shirt designed by Peter Saville.

Nike felt compelled to issue a statement on Friday in which it also played up the 1966 links and said: “We’ve 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.”

Sunak had followed Sir Keir Starmer in criticising the new design. “Obviously I prefer the original, and my general view is that when it comes to our national flags, we shouldn’t mess with them,” the prime minister said. “Because they are a source of pride, identity, who we are, and they’re perfect as they are.”

However, the former England international John Barnes could not understand what all the fuss was about. “If they were going to change the three lions, then that’s a debate to be had,” he said. “I think it’s a much ado about nothing. They are not changing the colour of the shirt, the lions are still there. If they were going to change the national flag for England and change the colours then that’s a proper debate to have.”

Meanwhile, the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA) has called for a “sell by” date to be put on kits so buyers know how long it will be in use before a newer version is released. An “authentic” version of the 2024 shirt on Nike’s website costs £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for children, while a “stadium” version is £84.99 and £64.99 for children.

An FSA spokesperson said: “In our national supporters survey last year 53% of fans agreed kit prices were important to them and, in that context, £119.99 for a kids’ match top does feel expensive, even more so if you want to buy your child the full kit. Suppliers should put a ‘sell by’ date on kits to make it clear how long they will be in use before being changed. An unwitting parent could easily buy a kit for Christmas or a birthday to find it’s ‘old’ within a matter of months.”