The design of the number four on the German national team’s shirts will be changed due to concerns that the number “44” resembles the symbol used by Nazi “SS” units, the German Football Association said on Monday.
“The German Football Association checks the numbers 0 to 9 and then sends the numbers 1 to 26 to UEFA for analysis. None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the process of creating the shirt design,” said the German Football Association in a statement on X.
“However, we take the comments very seriously and do not want to provide a platform for discussion… We will develop an alternative design for the number 4 and coordinate it with UEFA.”
Adidas, the DFB’s official supplier, had previously said it would remove the number 44 from its range of customization options.
“As a company, we actively oppose xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in any form,” Adidas spokesman Oliver Bruggen told German media.
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