In a bid to prevent any association with Nazi symbolism, German soccer fans have been prohibited from customizing their jerseys with the number 44. The decision came after individuals online pointed out the resemblance between the number and the lightning bolts symbol used by Nazi SS units. Sportswear giant Adidas, which manufactures the jerseys, confirmed that it has blocked the personalization option from its online store.

A spokesperson for Adidas stated that the company strongly rejected any insinuation that the design of the number 44 was intended to resemble the symbol of the Schutzstaffel (SS), a paramilitary group that played a significant role in Adolf Hitler's Third Reich, responsible for operating concentration camps during the Holocaust. They emphasized that promoting divisive or exclusionary views does not align with the values of the brand. The design of the names and numbers was said to be the responsibility of German soccer officials and their partner, 11teamsports.

The number ban followed concerns raised by the public regarding the potential symbolism of the number 44. Some pointed out that the number could be interpreted as the "rune signs for the letters 'SS'," which were used historically. It is important to note that unlike in the United States, such symbols are prohibited in Germany.

The German Football Association (DFB) addressed the issue in a statement, revealing that they had thoroughly checked the numbers zero to nine and had submitted the numbers one to 29 to the Union of European Football Associations for review. The parties involved in the jersey design process did not perceive any resemblance to Nazi symbolism, according to the DFB. Nevertheless, an alternative design will be developed for the number four.

These jerseys were originally intended to be worn by the German soccer team during the Euro 2024 soccer championship, to be hosted by Germany in June. It is worth mentioning that the DFB recently announced its switch from Adidas to Nike as the supplier of uniforms for Germany's national teams, citing financial reasons for the change.

The controversy surrounding the jersey design comes at a time when Germany is grappling with far-right extremism and an increase in hate crimes. The far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the country's third-strongest party, despite being placed under surveillance by Germany's domestic intelligence service in 2021. Kai Arzheimer, a professor of politics at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, highlighted that due to the party's rise and extremist connections, there is heightened awareness in Germany. Arzheimer pointed out that even the slightest resemblance between the style of the number on the jersey and the SS insignia is enough to warrant removing the jersey from the market.

It remains to be seen how the ban on the number 44 will affect the enthusiasm of German soccer fans who wish to customize their jerseys. The incident serves as a reminder of the ongoing efforts to combat and address far-right extremism in Germany.