No one noticed number 4
DFB has new jerseys changed at short notice due to Nazi look
April 2, 2024, 9:54 a.m
Nobody at the German Football Association noticed it, nor did their partner 11teamsports, nor did the manufacturer Adidas or UEFA: the number 4 on the new German football men’s jersey evokes unpleasant associations. The sales stop is now followed by a changed design.
The German Football Association has reacted to criticism of the design of the numbers on the national team’s new jerseys and announced an improvement. “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 development process of the jersey design,” the association said in a statement at X
The number 4 in the new design was reminiscent of a rune, the number 44 was similar to the runes of the Schutzstaffel SS during the National Socialist era. Although no national player wears this number, it could be ordered on personalized jerseys over the Internet through official channels. The DFB takes “the information very seriously” and “does not want to offer a platform for discussions”. That’s why “an alternative design of the number 4 is now being developed”.
The combination was noticed on social media and many people took part in the discussion. “The DFB and its partner 11teamsports are responsible for the design of the names and numbers,” said Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen. In the Adidas store, it was no longer possible to personalize the jerseys with your own name and number on Monday afternoon, and the DFB stopped the delivery of ordered combinations with the 44 in its own online shop.
Certain names with a connection to National Socialism could not be ordered from Adidas and the DFB. “This does not meet our personalization guidelines. Please try something else,” appeared as a note at Adidas when making a corresponding selection. The new jersey was presented shortly before the two international matches in France (2:0) and against the Netherlands (2:1). The campaign was accompanied by commercials that received a very positive response.