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 相關詞匯 【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 德國足協周一宣布要重新設計國家隊球衣上的數字“4”，因為有人說它像納粹準軍事部隊的標志。 有社交媒體用戶使用在線定制服務制作44號球衣，發現數字與納粹黨衛軍的標志相似。 德國足協在X網站上發表聲明說，它早些時候已將1至26號球衣提交給歐洲足球管理機構歐足聯審查，“在球衣設計過程中，沒有任何相關方發現與納粹標志的相似之處”。該協會表示，它正在“非常認真地”處理此事，并正在重新設計4的字體。 雖然德國男隊和女隊目前都沒有使用44號，但官方制服供應商阿迪達斯允許客戶個性化定制球衣號碼（從00到99） 以及一個10字符以內（包含10）的名字。阿迪達斯在線商店生成的圖片隨后被大量分享。 阿迪達斯發言人奧利弗?布魯根早些時候告訴德國媒體，這家體育用品巨頭將“盡快禁用44號球衣”，并補充說：“本公司積極反對任何形式的排外主義、反猶主義、暴力和仇恨。” 截至周二，阿迪達斯網站已關閉定制德國隊球衣的選項，但其他國家的隊服仍可定制。 德國足協3月底發布了該國男女隊的新球衣。男隊對陣法國隊時首次穿新球衣亮相，今夏德國主辦的2024年歐洲錦標賽上球員也會穿新球衣。 不到兩周前，德國足協宣布耐克將從2027年起接替阿迪達斯成為德國隊的官方球衣供應商。自20世紀50年代以來，阿迪達斯一直為德國隊生產球衣，其間德國男足（德國隊和之前的西德隊）曾四次奪得世界杯冠軍。 在阿迪達斯取消個性化定制之前，許多人在社交媒體上指出44號球衣上的數字像黨衛軍徽章上的SS。 阿道夫?希特勒創建了黨衛軍，被稱為納粹黨的“政治戰士”，承擔各種治安、安全和軍事任務，包括監管蓋世太保。等到納粹掌權時，黨衛軍已從一支不足300人的小部隊發展為一個擁有5萬多成員的組織。一些納粹在二戰期間犯下的嚴重罪行都與之有關，包括管理奧斯威辛等集中營。該組織的標志有點兒像閃電，當時使用如此廣泛以至于一些德國打字機上有個性化的“SS”按鍵。 (Translated by Debra) | 