England fans rage over ‘woke’ kit as Three Lions wear woke design for the first time

ENGLAND wore their controversial kit for the first time last night against Brazil — as fans raged over its woke design.

Nike’s addition of purple and blue horizontal stripes to the St George’s cross angered many in the official England kit store at Wembley Stadium.

Michelle Betterton, 43, with her twins, ten, said: “I support inclusivity and diversity, I’m just not sure they should have done it on the cross. Can you imagine if they coloured the Welsh Dragon black?”

Dean Ward, 54, who travelled from Stamford, Lincs, with wife Leanne, 52, and son Jack, 12, said: “It’s all woke marketing. I’m not a fan of them messing about.

“They wouldn’t get away with messing about with any other flag.”

Lee Farrell, 43, who was at the game with wife Helen, 44, son Jude ten, and daughter Aoife, 12, all from Leicester, said: “They should have left the shirt alone. But it’s the world we live in now.”

Liam, a dad from Wigan, told us: “I’m showing the shirt the red card.”

Fans also hit out at the cost.

A match day version costs £124.99 for adults and £119.99 for kids, while replicas are £84.99 for adults and £64.99 for children.

Michelle added: “It’s disgusting. £65 for a child’s? Absolutely not!” The redesign is widely believed to have been brought about because of concerns over the flag’s history and its link to far-right groups.

Coach Gareth Southgate has said: “If it is not white with a red cross, it is not the St George’s flag.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the national flag is a “source of pride and identity” and should not be messed with.

Nike said it never intended to offend.

The Three Lions will wear it again on Tuesday against Belgium.

•  THE German FA has sparked fury by ditching its national team kit supplier, home-grown adidas, after 70 years — for Nike.