This archive report was first published on 13 November 2019.
On November 13, 2019, Russia's football authorities announced that the national team would not be wearing new Adidas-designed shirts in upcoming Euro-2020 qualifiers.
The decision came after some fans pointed out that the new shirts, unveiled by Adidas last week, reverse the colours of the Russian flag. The shirts feature blue and white stripes trimming the red sleeves, creating the effect of a tricolour flag, similar to uniforms designed for Germany.
However, the colours on the Russian shirts put the colours in the reverse order to the national white, blue and red tricolour when players have their arms at their sides, resembling the Serbian flag instead.
"In the upcoming games, the Russian national team will continue using the kit in which it began the qualifying round," the Russian Football Union told AFP.
Adidas had described the shirt as "reintroducing the strong, bold colours of the nation's flag" while the team's manager Stanislav Cherchesov said it presented an "interesting sleeve solution."
"When fans support the team by clapping with their arms in the air, you'll be able to see the Russian flag on the sleeves," he said.
The new shirts were already on sale in official Adidas stores, but the team is now training in Sochi wearing their old kit designed for the 2018 World Cup.
