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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>England kit revealed</li><li>Debate on the cross feature</li><li>Southgate weighs in</li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'Not the St George's flag' - England boss Gareth Southgate compares 'quirky' new kit design feature to Banksy artwork & insists it shouldn't be changed

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England

Southgate has weighed in on the debate surrounding the flag on the collar of the latest England home kit. The Three Lions boss claimed it was just a 'quirky feature' rather than an altered version of the St George's flag.<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/england-kit-slammed-ex-three-lions-striker-fans-rage-nike-woke-nonsense/blt2591ec3553161d7e" target="_blank"> A heated debate has broken out across the country about the cross on the back of the collar</a>, which is red, blue and purple, rather than the traditional red and white of the flag.

WHAT HAPPENED?

“My view is if it’s not white with a red cross it’s not the St George’s flag,” Southgate said in a press conference. “So whatever it is, it’s a quirky design feature which I guess a Banksy or a Reuben Dangoor might do.”The England boss was then questioned on whether he thought the design should be changed, where he added: “They can put a quirky design together but you can’t say it’s the flag of St George because it isn’t. It’s therefore something else.“The most important thing on the England shirt is the Three Lions really. That is the thing that is iconic, that differentiates us even from the England rugby team or the England cricket team. People don’t think we should change the flag of St George, (but) if it’s changed then it isn’t the flag of St George! So I’m a little bit lost with that element of it.”

WHAT SOUTHGATE SAID

The<a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/fa-statement-backlash-woke-england-kit-accused-virtue-signalling/blte63db14cb48aabb5" target="_blank"> FA have since commented</a> on the design, where they highlighted that the cross was added to the shirt to honour the 1966 World Cup winners and the training kit they wore.An FA spokesperson said: “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. We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

As noted in the FA's statement, England will don their new kits for the first time on Saturday evening as they face <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/england-v-brazil-live-stream-online-tv-where-to-watch/bltce9bf971061c2678" target="_blank">Brazil</a> in a friendly at Wembley Stadium. Following that, the Three Lions will also be in action on March 26 against Belgium before the end of the international break.

WHAT NEXT FOR ENGLAND?

'Not the St George's flag' - England boss Gareth Southgate compares 'quirky' new kit design feature to Banksy artwork & insists it shouldn't be changed | Goal.com South Africa

Gareth Southgate has made his feelings clear on the debate surrounding the new England kit and a controversial design feature.

&apos;Not the St George&apos;s flag&apos; - England boss Gareth Southgate compares &apos;quirky&apos; new kit design feature to Banksy artwork &amp; insists it shouldn&apos;t be changed