Newcastle United have removed a scene from the launch video of their recent third kit, apologising for any offence it caused.
The brand new blue kit with orange trim was revealed on Monday, launched with a video featuring Magpies fan and pop star Sam Fender.
The video was taken down, though, and reposted with a scene removed because it could have caused offence.
The unique video featured a scene which showed a flag resembling the Rising Sun flag which was flown by Japanese armed forces during WWII.
A spokesperson for Newcastle told the Northern Echo: ‘We have now been alerted to the looks of a flag in our recent third kit launch video that would inadvertently cause offence.
“In response, we immediately removed the video from circulation and have taken steps to edit the visual from all future content.
“We sincerely apologise for any offence caused.
An extra statement after the video was reposted read: ‘The response to our recent third kit with adidas has been special, however the launch video contained a scene that would inadvertently cause offence. We apologise for that.
‘We’ve removed the scene from the film to be sure that as many fans as possible can enjoy it.’
Why is the Rising Sun flag offensive?
The rising sun flag is a red circle on a white background – like the present Japanese flag – but with 16 red lines emerging from the central circle.
It was previously used because the flag of the Japanese military during a time when Japan occupied other Asian nations. It was then related to the Japanese navy during WWII when Japan’s troops spread across Asia, committing atrocities in the method.
Other Asian countries – notably South Korea – see the rising sun flag as a representation of war crimes and atrocities that Japan committed prior to now.
The brand new third kit can be worn for the primary time against Celtic on July 19, with the club talking up the ‘modern tribute to the long-lasting 97/98 third kit.’
Peter Silverstone, the club’s Chief Industrial Officer said: ‘This third kit is a strong mix of past and present – a daring design that reflects each our proud history and the exciting journey ahead. Working closely with adidas, we’ve created something that we hope will resonate deeply with our global supporters, bringing back an iconic look with a contemporary twist.
‘There’s an actual pride in wearing the trefoil – a logo that connects generations of fans and players. Our passionate global fanbase will see this and wear it with pride, especially as we return to the UEFA Champions League for the second time in three years.
‘Just as importantly, every adult shirt sold direct from the club contributes on to our Foundation’s work across the North East, reinforcing our commitment to community impact on and off the pitch.’
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