The German Football Association (DFB) is working on redesigning soccer uniforms with numbers reminiscent of the Nazi past.
The uniform in question bears the number 4, which closely resembles the lightning bolt logo worn by Adolf Hitler's Schutzstaffel militia, better known as the SS.
Further complicating matters, the uniforms were provided by Adidas. Adidas is still trying to recover from its collaboration with the Nazi-sympathetic rapper formerly known as Kanye West.
German soccer officials said on Monday that none of the people involved in the production of the controversial jersey initially believed in its design and that of the nationalist party responsible for World War II and genocidal concentration camps. He said he had not discovered any similarities with aesthetics.
However, public attention to the issue has led sports executives to reconsider uniforms, with the DFB saying it “does not want to provide a forum for discussion”.
The organization added that it had developed an “alternative design” for the controversial number 4 and would use it on the new uniforms.
The German team's current number 4 is most problematic when combined with a second number 4, which somewhat replicates the appearance of the two lightning bolt emblem worn by SS officers.
According to CNN, Adidas, which has been manufacturing the German team's uniforms for more than 70 years, will be adding uniform numbers to its customized uniforms because the company actively opposes “xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence, and hatred.” He told local media that he would immediately stop printing the 44. In any form. ”
Adidas announced in October 2022 that West, now legally known as Yea, was collaborating with a sports apparel brand and ramping up his anti-Jewish hatred, and in October 2022 he was facing a new Nazi issue. Noticed.
“I can say anti-Semitic things and Adidas can't fire me.” he boasted before being let loose. “So?”
A New York Times report reveals that Adidas employees knew about Ye's anti-Semitism long before the company ended its nearly decade-long contract with the “Black Skinhead” rapper. Became. Yeh and Adidas claim they lost at least $1 billion when they parted ways.
