British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday urged Nike "not to mess" with the national flag on the new England football kit for the upcoming Euro 2024.
Nike revealed that they had altered the cross using purple and blue horizontal stripes calling it a "playful update" for the Euro 2024 which will begin on June 14in Germany.
The US sportswear firm further stated that the colours on the back of the shirt's collar were inspired by the training kit that England's 1966 World Cup-winning team wore.
However, the decision was not welcomed by the fans as well as the former players. It didn't stop there as British politicians were soon seen making statements on it.
Rishi Sunak, who supports English championship side Southampton, stated that he prefers the original colours and they should remain unchanged.
"My general view is that when it comes to our national flags, we shouldn't mess with them," he told reporters as quoted by BBC. "Because they are a source of pride, identity, who we are, and they're perfect as they are."
Another political Keir Starmer, who supports Arsenal and is the leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, asked Nike to reconsider their decision to modify the St George's Cross.
"I'm a big football fan, I go to England games, men and women's games, and the flag is used by everybody. It is a unifier. It doesn't need to be changed. We just need to be proud of it," Starmer told The Sun newspaper.
Earlier, England's defender Harry Maguire backed his country to win the European Championship.
"I feel that as a group, we're ready to win (the Euros)," Maguire told reporters ahead of Saturday's friendly with Brazil.
"If you are to win the Euros, you are probably going to have to win a penalty shootout. Tournament football is built on big moments. The quarter-final against France at the 2022 World Cup could have gone either way but it went to them.
"We have the players to produce the big moments. We have to be mentally prepared so that in this tournament, we make these moments ours."
Remember, England are slotted with Slovenia, Denmark and Serbia in Group C of Euro 2024.