ENGLAND’S away kit is selling more than the home shirt for the first time ever at one retail giant.
It comes after Nike’s “woke” crisis saw the St George’s Cross on the Three Lions’ shirt modified with different colouring to the traditional red bars.
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The decision was slammed by fans, Three Lions’ legends, and politicians, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer, among those opposing the change.
The modified flag is also used on the away shirt, but instead of sitting on the outside of the back collar it is hidden on the inside.
Now high street giant JD Sports has revealed that for the first time ever the England away kit is selling more than the home kit.
Regis Schulz, chief executive of JD Sports, told The Sun: “ It has only been two or three days of trading and so far it has been ok , but the one thing we are seeing is that the away shirt is selling better than the other one, when usually it would be the other way around.”
Shulz also said the company had not sold out of the shirt yet.
“It is early days.
“We have more shirts than normal, we had a bigger order so that might be why.”
The strange sales pattern comes after last week’s row that saw Nike say they never intended to offend England fans.
The Telegraph also reported that an even more multi-coloured version of the kit was turned down by the FA.
Sportswear giant Nike released a statement saying: “We have been a proud partner of the FA since 2012 and understand the significance and importance of the St George’s Cross and it was never our intention to offend, given what it means to England fans.
“Together with the FA, the intention was to celebrate the heroes of 1966 and their achievements.
“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 on the back of the collar.”
Peter Shilton, England’s most capped men’s player ever, has been one of the the kit’s fiercest critics.
The 74-year-old said: “This is wrong on every level. I’m totally against it. Including the price that Nike are going to charge.
“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.”
The FA said in a statement: “The new England 2024 home kit has a number of design elements which were meant as a tribute to the 1966 World Cup-winning team.
“The coloured trim on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the same colours also feature on the design on the back of the collar.
“It is not the first time that different coloured St George’s Cross-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.
“We are very proud of the red and white St George’s cross – the England flag.
One thing we are seeing is that the away shirt is selling better than the other one, when usually it would be the other way around
Regis Schulz
Politicians also decried with the change with Labour leader Keir Starmer exclusive telling The Sun on the new politics show Never Mind the Ballots.
In the show – airing now on thesun.co.uk and The Sun’s YouTube channel – Starmer laid into Nike’s decision to change the flag on the back of the shirt.
Sir Keir said the original colours were “unifying” – and called the St George’s “something to be proud of”.
Meanwhile, Sunak said: “Obviously I prefer the original, and my general view is that when it comes to our national flags, we shouldn’t mess with them.
“Because they are a source of pride, identity, who we are, and they’re perfect as they are.”
Other retailers are yet to release their sales.
Kit price increase
Many supporters are also outraged by a huge increase in the price of the kit.
A standard England shirt will cost £84.99 – £20 more than three years ago for the Euro 2020 final.
A junior version from the official England online store sets fans back £64.99.
And the charge for a lightweight, quick-drying, so-called “authentic” top has raised even more eyebrows.
It costs £124.99 for the adult shirt and just £5 less for the junior size.
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