David Seaman claims England players 'would have said NO' to Nike's 'playful' St George's flag - as FA insists it won't recall new controversial home kit
- Nike have doubled down on their 'playful update' of England's football shirt
- The new design was met by widespread fury from fans and commentators
- Nike's 'playful update' on St George's cross is 'a load of b******s'... who signed that flag design off? It's so dumb - Listen to the It's All Kicking Off podcast
England legend David Seaman has claimed players would have 'said no' to Nike's altered version of the St George's flag had they been consulted.
The FA and manufacturers Nike doubled down on the design, insisting they have no plans to recall the jersey.
Nike describe the navy, light blue and purple colours as a ‘playful update’ on the nation’s flag. They say the changed kit is not virtue-signalling but instead a nod to the 1966 World Cup winners.
The kit, which is now on sale, will be worn by the Three Lions in their friendly against Brazil at Wembley on Saturday.
Former England goalkeeper Seaman believes members of the England squad would have rejected the updated flag.
![England's new shirt features an altered design of the St George's cross, which has a red, navy blue and purple design](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82753429-13228635-The_shirt_features_an_altered_design_of_the_St_George_s_cross_wh-a-32_1711131244249.jpg)
England's new shirt features an altered design of the St George's cross, which has a red, navy blue and purple design
![Former England goalkeeper David Seaman believes players in his generation would have refused to wear the new kit](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82786241-13228635-image-a-31_1711131208609.jpg)
Former England goalkeeper David Seaman believes players in his generation would have refused to wear the new kit
![The launch of England's new kit for the 2024 Euros has been met with widespread fury](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82753365-13228635-The_launch_of_England_s_new_kit_for_the_2024_Euros_has_been_met_-a-33_1711131343853.jpg)
The launch of England's new kit for the 2024 Euros has been met with widespread fury
![Seaman told talkSPORT if Nike had approached the players 'they would've said no'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82786639-13228635-image-a-39_1711131823546.jpg)
Seaman told talkSPORT if Nike had approached the players 'they would've said no'
Seaman, who won 75 caps for England between 1988 and 2002, told talkSPORT he believed that many of his generation of players would have refused to wear it.
'It's not broken, it doesn't need fixing. What's next, are we going to change the three lions to three cats? Leave it alone,' Seaman said.
'I had that situation when I wore that red kit for Euro 96, I said "have I got to wear that?"
'But this is different, it's the St George's flag, leave it alone you know. I'm sure, if they'd have approached the lads and asked them about it, they would've said no.
'I just don't know how far down the line it goes before it gets past. Just leave it alone!'
England's most capped men's player, Peter Shilton, said today: 'This is wrong on every level. I’m totally against it. Including the price that Nike are going to charge.
'I don't agree with it. It's woke. If you're going to put the St George's Cross on a kit, which obviously Nike have done, then just put it on with the traditional colours. Like the Three Lions, it's traditional'.
Former England striker Brian Deane claimed Nike and the FA had 'scored an own goal' by agreeing to make the change to St George's flag.
'I don’t see why there is a need to change it, it’s almost like trying to erase how things have been in the past and I don’t think it’s appropriate in this case,' Deane told 1337.Games.
![England's alternate strip is said to take inspiration from kits of the past and boasts a purple colourway](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82753433-13228635-England_s_alternate_strip_is_said_to_take_inspiration_from_kits_-a-34_1711131376436.jpg)
![Nike say the new kit designs are a nod to the Three Lions' 1966 World Cup winning side](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82753371-13228635-Nike_say_the_new_kit_designs_are_a_nod_to_the_Three_Lions_1966_W-a-35_1711131376800.jpg)
The FA and manufacturers Nike doubled down on the design claiming they have no plans to recall the jerseys
![The kit designer revealed that the update to the St Georges cross was to 'unite and inspire'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82723037-13228635-The_kit_designer_revealed_that_the_update_to_the_St_Georges_cros-a-36_1711131451526.jpg)
The kit designer revealed that the update to the St Georges cross was to 'unite and inspire'
![England's teams are set to benefit from technology developed in the Nike Sport Research Lab which has been implemented into the new playing jerseys](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82753497-13228635-England_s_teams_are_set_to_benefit_from_technology_developed_in_-a-37_1711131464595.jpg)
England's teams are set to benefit from technology developed in the Nike Sport Research Lab which has been implemented into the new playing jerseys
'It’s very symbolic to a lot of people in this country and for whatever branding or fashion, I don’t think it’s relevant and I think they’ve scored an own goal to be honest.
'It’s just something that people will feel as though they’re rights are eroded away and it’s quite inflammatory as you can see from the backlash.'
England's most capped men's player, Peter Shilton, said today: 'This is wrong on every level. I’m totally against it. Including the price that Nike are going to charge.
'I don't agree with it. It's woke. If you're going to put the St George's Cross on a kit, which obviously Nike have done, then just put it on with the traditional colours. Like the Three Lions, it's traditional'.
Former Football Association boss Adrian Bevington today admitted that he would not have signed off on the new shirt and said: 'It's our flag. It's a national identity and I just don't really think it needs to be changed'.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer tweeted: 'Fans should always come first, and it’s clear that this is not what fans want. 'Our national heritage - including St George’s Cross - brings us together. Toying with it is pointless and unnecessary.'
More than 16,000 people have signed an online petition to scrap the new shirt and start again and an online campaign to boycott Nike is in full swing because critics are fed up with national pride being painted as a negative thing - or even equated with racism.
![Peter Shilton, another England legend, is furious over the decision](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/03/22/18/82768769-13228635-Peter_Shilton_another_England_legend_is_furious_over_the_decisio-a-38_1711131720930.jpg)
Peter Shilton, another England legend, is furious over the decision
Nike and England's management have sparked anger and disbelief by signing off on a 'playful' redesign and turned the flag light blue and purple.
Adrian Bevington, the former FA managing director, told talkSPORT that he would not have signed off on the shirt.
He said: 'I think it's an emotive subject and it was always going to cause the conjecture that we've got.
'I always try and see it from all sides, and I understand from Nike's perspective they're looking to push all the time and be cutting edge and as modern as they can be to the different markets they serve.
'But... it's our flag. When the games take place, particularly during the tournament, you'll see the stadium absolutely swamped with the cross of St George hanging everywhere.
'It's a national identity and I just don't really think it needs to be changed. And it's going to upset a lot of people because people do feel passionate about this.'
But he added: 'It may end up selling more kits for them, who knows, commercially it might drive it with the conjecture it's created. If I'd been in a position to sign off or not, I wouldn't have signed off on that personally.'
The American company claims the change was took cues from the training kit worn by the England team which won the 1966 World Cup and aimed to honour the 'classic colour regime'.
Politicians and pundits have got involved in the row, with even Sir Keir Starmer saying the original colours were 'unifying' and questioning why they had been changed.
Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer told The Sun: 'I'm a big football fan, I go to England games, men, women's games.
'And the flag is used by everybody, it's unifying, it doesn't need to change.
'We just need to be proud of it. So I think they should just reconsider this and change it back.'
Despite the backlash Nike is not going to make any changes to the jersey, which is said to have 'flown off the shelves' since its release on Monday.
Insiders have acknowledged the use of clumsy language in a Nike tweet which spoke of 'a playful update' which 'appears on the collar to unite and inspire' - but there are no plans to change it.
A Nike spokesperson said: 'The England 2024 Home kit disrupts history with a modern take on a classic.
'The trim on the cuffs takes its cues from the training gear worn by England's 1966 heroes, with a gradient of blues and reds topped with purple.
'The same colours also feature an interpretation of the flag of St. George on the back of the collar.'
The shirt also has the full backing of the FA, who are understood to 'completely stand by it'.