Germany national football team kit manufacturer, Adidas, has banned fans from buying the country’s jersey customised with number ’44’ following media attention about its resemblance to the Nazi SS symbol.

“We will block personalisation of the jerseys,” the BBC quoted Adidas spokesperson, Oliver Brüggen, as saying.

The controversy came to media attention after the “very questionable” choice of design was first raised by historian Michael König which prompted Adidas to halt the personalisation of the new kits with number 44. 

The German SS units were notorious for the atrocities they committed during the reign of the Nazis under dictator Adolf Hitler – they ran the concentration camps where millions of Jews and others were killed.

Complainants claimed the number 44 bore resemblance to the SS rune symbol which was designed in 1929 – it was worn by members of the SS ranging from Gestapo agents to concentration camp guards during the World War Two era.

Brüggen added that the kit’s resemblance to Nazi symbols was not deliberate while stressing the company is committed to the fight against xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred.

“We as a company are committed to opposing xenophobia, anti-Semitism, violence and hatred in every form,” he said.

The German football federation (DFB) maintained “none of the parties involved saw any proximity to Nazi symbolism” while the shirt’s designs were submitted to UEFA for review during the design process.