It’s not just English media and football fans kicking off about new kit designs. German politicians are up in arms about their Football Association’s decision to ditch Adidas’s three stripes after 70 years in favour of the Nike swoosh from 2027.
“I can hardly imagine the German jersey without the three stripes,” said Economy Minister Robert Habeck. “For me, Adidas and black-red-gold always belonged together. A piece of German identity.”
Health Minister Karl Lauterbach took to X…
Adidas soll nicht mehr Nationaltrikot im Fußball sein? Statt dessen ein US Unternehmen? Halte ich für eine Fehlentscheidung, wo Kommerz eine Tradition und ein Stück Heimat vernichtet… pic.twitter.com/14N4xWCQJa
— Prof. Karl Lauterbach (@Karl_Lauterbach) March 21, 2024
The DFB said the deal made financial sense and would support grassroots German football, after it was revealed that Nike agreed to pay about €100m per year to supply the kit, doubling Adidas’s payment of €50m.