Switzerland’s shirts failed to stand up to the test during Sunday’s 0-0 draw with France.
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Kit manufacturer Puma said it had traced a problem with ripped shirts for the Swiss team at Euro 2016 to a defective batch of material used only in a limited number of home jerseys for the team.
Shaqiri was asked about the fact that the Swiss jerseys continued to tear during their 0-0 draw with France on Sunday night, likely the only talking point of an otherwise uneventful game, and his response was absolutely brilliant. At least the side’s star man Xherdan Shaqiri was able to see the amusing side, though.
New Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka was forced to change his jersey twice during the match, while Admir Mehmedi and the striker Breel Embolo also suffered a similar fate.
Some wondered if there was method in Puma’s thinking – that the match referee would surely award Switzerland penalty kicks or free kicks because the French players’ illegal shirt-pulling was so obvious.
It said its investigation had found that “there was a faulty batch of material in which the yarn was damaged during production”.
“This can happen, if the combination of heat, pressure and time is not properly controlled in the manufacturing process”, added the PUMA statement.
Puma is also the supplier for the teams of Austria, Czech Republic, Italy and Slovakia. The Italians, however, have not yet had any problems.
All of them had “confirmed that they had no problems of this kind and are very satisfied with the quality, functionality and design of the shirts”, said the company.
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Puma’s German rival Adidas said Monday it had agreed a four-year deal to remain kit supplier to Germany until 2022 worth more than €50 million euros a year. The “Beau Jeu” ball designed especially for Euro 2016 burst open when two players converged on it in a second-half challenge.
