Adidas has banned football fans from buying German football kits customised with the number 44, after media raised their resemblance to the symbol used by World War Two-era Nazi SS units.
“We will block personalisation of the jerseys,” an Adidas spokesman said.
SS units were the most responsible for the crimes against humanity committed by the Nazis.
The newly released kit has also caused controversy with its choice of pink for the away colours.
The symbolism issue was first raised by historian Michael König, who said the design of the kits was “very questionable”.
The SS rune was designed in 1929 for use by the Nazi units. Members of the SS ranged from Gestapo agents to concentration camp guards. SS duties included administering death camps where millions of Jews and others were put to death.
Adidas spokesman Oliver Brüggen denied that the kit’s resemblance to the Nazi symbols was intentional.
“We as a company are committed to opposing xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in every form,” he said.
Adidas separately told the BBC that the German Football Association (DFB) and its partners had designed the numbers on the shirts.
