Adidas is redesigning No. 4 on German national football team’s kit ahead of Euro 2024. Here’s why

Germany kit controversy, Nazi symbolism: Adidas is all set to redesign the German national football side’s kit containing the number ‘4’ to avoid Nazi symbolism. In a statement released by the DFB (German Football Association), it confirmed the slight change as the No. '44' resembled the symbol used by Nazi 'SS' units. The new kit already made its debut during the recent friendly against France and is all set to be donned by the stars of the national side during the upcoming Euro 2024.

DFB confirms kit design change

"The DFB checks the numbers 0-9 and then submits the numbers 1-26 to UEFA for review. None of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the creation process of the jersey design," the DFB said in a statement on X.

"Nevertheless, we take the comments very seriously and do not want to provide a platform for discussions. We will develop an alternative design for the number 4 and coordinate it with UEFA."

After the kit’s debut in the France friendly, it was pointed out that kit No. 44 symbolises Nazi 'SS' units due to the pattern of ‘4’ used in it. The stylised SS symbol is banned in Germany today as it indicated police units, combat forces, and others who ran the concentration camps that carried out the mass killings of civilians during World War II.

The kits with number No. 44 were immediately called back to avoid any further controversy with Germany being the host of the Euro 2024. Adidas had earlier claimed that it would remove the number 44 from its range of customisation options. They also claimed that DFB and 11teamsports were responsible for the design of the names and numbers on the shirts.

Adidas clears air

"People from around 100 countries work at Adidas. Our company stands for the promotion of diversity and inclusion, and as a company, we actively campaign against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in all forms," Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen said. "Any attempts to promote divisive or exclusionary views are not part of our values as a brand."

Germany’s national football kit has been in the headlines for more than one reason recently. Apart from the Nazi symbolism controversy, DFB recently decided to end its decades-long partnership with Adidas and will instead use kits provided by Nike from 2027 with the partnership running until 2034.