German soccer authorities will redesign the number “4” on the country’s national jerseys amid claims it resembles a logo used by Nazi paramilitary units.

The German Football Association (DFB) made the announcement Monday after social media users began using an online customization service to create shirts bearing the number “44” — and pointing out the similarity to the Schutzstaffel, or SS, logo.

In a statement posted to X, the DFB said it had earlier submitted numbers 1 to 26 to European soccer’s governing body, UEFA, for review, and that “none of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism in the creation process of the jersey design.” The association said it was taking the matter “very seriously” and was developing “an alternative design” for the digit.

While 44 is not currently used by the German men’s or women’s teams, official uniform supplier Adidas allowed customers to personalize the jerseys with a number, from 00 to 99, and a name up to 10 letters long. The resulting images generated by Adidas’ online shop were then widely shared online.

Adidas spokesperson Oliver Bruggen earlier told German media that the sportswear giant would “block the number 44 as quickly as possible,” adding: “As a company we actively oppose xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in any form.”

As of Tuesday, the option to customize the German team’s jerseys had been removed from Adidas’ websites, though it remains in place for other nations’ uniforms.

The DFB unveiled Germany’s new uniforms, which will be worn by both men’s and women’s teams, in late March. The men’s team debuted the jerseys during a match against France, and they are set to be worn at the 2024 UEFA European Championship, which is being hosted by Germany this summer. Less than two weeks ago, the DFB announced that Nike will take over from Adidas as the German soccer team’s official shirt supplier from 2027. Adidas has produced the country’s jerseys since the 1950s, during which time the men’s team (either as Germany or West Germany) has claimed four World Cups.

The decision by Adidas to block personalization of the shirts comes after many on social media pointed out the numbers’ resemblance to the controversial SS insignia.

The SS was founded by Adolf Hitler and was described as the Nazi Party’s “political soldiers.” It assumed various policing, security and military roles, including overseeing the Gestapo. By the time the Nazis came to power, it had grown from a small unit of under 300 people into an organization of over 50,000. It later became associated with some of the worst crimes committed by the Nazis during World War II — including running concentration camps, such as Auschwitz. The group’s lightning-like logo was so widely used at the time that some German typewriters were produced with a stylized “SS” key. (SD-Agencies)

Words to Learn 相关词汇

【球衣】qiúyī jersey an often loose-fitting shirt that is worn by a member of a sports team

【相近】xiāngjìn proximity the quality or state of being close

德国足协周一宣布要重新设计国家队球衣上的数字“4”，因为有人说它像纳粹准军事部队的标志。

有社交媒体用户使用在线定制服务制作44号球衣，发现数字与纳粹党卫军的标志相似。

德国足协在X网站上发表声明说，它早些时候已将1至26号球衣提交给欧洲足球管理机构欧足联审查，“在球衣设计过程中，没有任何相关方发现与纳粹标志的相似之处”。该协会表示，它正在“非常认真地”处理此事，并正在重新设计4的字体。

虽然德国男队和女队目前都没有使用44号，但官方制服供应商阿迪达斯允许客户个性化定制球衣号码（从00到99）

以及一个10字符以内（包含10）的名字。阿迪达斯在线商店生成的图片随后被大量分享。

阿迪达斯发言人奥利弗•布鲁根早些时候告诉德国媒体，这家体育用品巨头将“尽快禁用44号球衣”，并补充说：“本公司积极反对任何形式的排外主义、反犹主义、暴力和仇恨。”

截至周二，阿迪达斯网站已关闭定制德国队球衣的选项，但其他国家的队服仍可定制。

德国足协3月底发布了该国男女队的新球衣。男队对阵法国队时首次穿新球衣亮相，今夏德国主办的2024年欧洲锦标赛上球员也会穿新球衣。

不到两周前，德国足协宣布耐克将从2027年起接替阿迪达斯成为德国队的官方球衣供应商。自20世纪50年代以来，阿迪达斯一直为德国队生产球衣，其间德国男足（德国队和之前的西德队）曾四次夺得世界杯冠军。

在阿迪达斯取消个性化定制之前，许多人在社交媒体上指出44号球衣上的数字像党卫军徽章上的SS。

阿道夫•希特勒创建了党卫军，被称为纳粹党的“政治战士”，承担各种治安、安全和军事任务，包括监管盖世太保。等到纳粹掌权时，党卫军已从一支不足300人的小部队发展为一个拥有5万多成员的组织。一些纳粹在二战期间犯下的严重罪行都与之有关，包括管理奥斯威辛等集中营。该组织的标志有点儿像闪电，当时使用如此广泛以至于一些德国打字机上有个性化的“SS”按键。

(Translated by Debra)