Seemingly coming down from the euphoria of qualification with a thump, Northern Ireland fans have taken to the Internet in their thousands after taking exception to the countries new national team home kit.
Along with the usual green, the new Adidas design features dark blue sleeves with a strip of blue gradient across the chest, a tribute to the last time they reached a major international competition (the 1986 World Cup in Mexico). The addition has has somehow got people in a right tizz.
One such person is N Ireland fan Ian McKinney who harnessed the power of the Internet to vocalise his distain, even going as far as setting up a change.org petition to campaign for “a proper kit for Euro 2016″.
Quite astoundingly, so far the total number that have clicked in agreement sit at nearly 6000!
And it reads;
Northern Ireland fans were amazed and delighted when our wee country qualified for Euro 2016. It’s our first tournament for 30 years and for many of us, it’s a once in a lifetime experience.
As fans, we were so looking forward to the finals, and particularly to a new kit.
With Adidas in charge, we all thought that our Finals kit would be something simple, attractive and instantly classic, like our Spain 82 or Mexico 86 kits.
Unfortunately Adidas produced an absolute monstrosity of a kit which has received almost universally negative feedback. It has too many colours, a terrible design, and it’s totally out of touch with what fans wanted.
Together we could force the IFA and Adidas to change. If you don’t like the kit and you want something better, then sign the petition.
Let’s get ourselves the kit we deserve, not this awful mess!
Sizeably portion it may be, are we mad in not mirroring fans fury?
Not great, but surely not ‘monstrous’. Have they seen this effort?
(Via the Belfast Telegraph)