Why Spain’s 2018 FIFA World Cup Uniform is Stirring Controversy

The new uniform that the Spanish soccer team will use in the 2018 World Cup in Russia is sparking political debate. That's because its design resembles the Republican flag used in the fight against the monarchy during the country's 1936-1939 Civil War.

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The controversy involves a lateral strip formed by rows of red, yellow and blue diamonds, but its combination gives the optical effect of being purple. 

The sports giant Adidas, the company that designed it, said it had followed a design inspired by the team's former shirt, which Spain used during the 1994 World Cup that was played in the United States.

On top of that, Adidas' signature stripes on the shoulder of the shirt are yellow with a red background, resembling the Catalan independence flag. 

The shirt that will be used by "La Roja," the nickname for the national team, has already been dubbed the "Republican shirt" and some have called for a boycott against it. 

Sports commentator Eduardo Inda said he demanded that the company "amends this error" and encouraged all fans to not buy the official jersey. "The new jersey of the national team is disgusting," Inda said on TV.

New Spanish team t-shirt of La Roja creates a fury among pro-crown Spaniards. They believe the colors resemble the Republican flag. 

Meanwhile, for leftist Spanish politicians, the incident became an opportunity to criticize the government for blocking Catalonia's independence.

Gabriel Rufian, from the Catalonia Left party in Congress, took on politicians Mariano Rajoy, Pedro Sanchez and Alberto Rivera for opposing it.

"Rajoy, Sanchez and Rivera meet urgently to agree on the application of 155 to Adidas", Rufian said on Twitter, referring to Article 155 of the Constitution that was used to end Catalonia's independence bid. 

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He also referred to Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont's arrest order on charges of sedition, misappropriation of public funds and rebellion, among others.

Adidas said that they respect "any opinion that may arise, as it always happens with every t-shirt in a large tournament," adding that the colors represent "the speed, energy and style of soccer in Spain."

The president of the Spanish Football Federation, Juan Luis Larrea, said the colors have nothing to do with the Republican flag. "It's not purple, it's blue, we've come to test it even when its wet and that blue color remains," Larrea said.

Another criticism for the shirt is its price, as Adidas branches and the official store of the Royal Spanish Football Federation, RFEF, are selling it for US$150.

Rajoy, Sanchez and Rivera meet urgently to agree on the application of 155 to ADIDAS.

You are more outraged by the purple shirt of a soccer player for the World Cup than the penalty of imprisoning a person for his ideas.