Adidas has prohibited football enthusiasts from purchasing customized German football jerseys bearing the number 44, following media reports highlighting their similarity to the symbol utilized by World War Two-era Nazi SS units.
“We will block personalisation of the jerseys,” an Adidas spokesman said.
The SS units were primarily responsible for the heinous crimes against humanity committed by the Nazis.
The newly unveiled kit has stirred controversy due to its selection of pink for the away colors.
Historian Michael König first raised concerns about the symbolism, stating that the design of the kits was “highly questionable.”
The SS rune, created in 1929, was intended for use by Nazi units. Members of the SS included Gestapo agents and concentration camp guards, with responsibilities ranging from administering death camps where millions of Jews and others were executed.
Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen refuted any intentional resemblance to Nazi symbols in the kit.
“We as a company are committed to opposing xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in every form,” he said.
Adidas informed the BBC separately that the German Football Association (DFB) and its partners were responsible for designing the numbers on the shirts.
In a Twitter post, the DFB stated that the shirt designs had undergone review by UEFA during the design process, and “none of the parties involved perceived any resemblance to Nazi symbolism.”
They also mentioned that an alternative design for the number 4 would be developed.
The same kit has sparked additional controversy due to its selection of bright pink as the away color. Supporters argue that the color represents the country’s diversity, while critics assert that it is unconventional and introduced solely to generate revenue for the DFB.
Adidas has been producing German jerseys since the 1950s.
However, the decision by the DFB to replace German company Adidas with American giant Nike as the manufacturer of German football kits from 2027 has drawn criticism from Economy Minister Robert Habeck for its perceived lack of “patriotism.”
Germany will host this year’s European Football Championship, which will take place in 10 different cities.