Nike considered making the St George's Cross closer to a 'rainbow' effect prior to the recent England kit controversy, according to reports.
The Three Lions launched their new home and away shirts earlier this week, with players set to don the strips at the European Championships this summer.
But Nike have been criticised after changing the colours of the St George's Cross.
While the emblem is traditionally red with a white background, the sportswear giants have opted to make it blue and purple on the new England home shirt instead.
Nike have refused to recall the jersey, despite a strong backlash - including from both fans and former players alike.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Nike's 'own goal' has been two years in the making.
Nike first presented the FA with proposed designs for the shirts back in the summer of 2022.
And a source has apparently told the publication that, initially, the US firm 'wanted to make the home kit even more multi-coloured and closer to displaying a rainbow effect'.
This, it's claimed, was a 'bridge too far' for the FA.
The report says one senior FA figure failed to spot the 'offending emblem' before the kit was officially improved.
Another insider is said to place the blame at the door of commercial director Navin Singh, who quit last year to work at Six Nations Rugby.
Yet a source close to Singh disputes that he was 'solely responsible', claiming he hadn't even seen the cross at the time.
Singh is, however, portrayed as the person who was responsible for vetoing the rainbow idea amid fears the FA could be seen as 'virtue-signalling'.
England are set to wear their new home shirt during a blockbuster friendly clash with Brazil tonight.
And Three Lions boss Gareth Southgate has condemned the changes to the St George's Cross, saying: "I think they can put a quirky design together but you can't say it's the flag of St George because it isn't.
"It's therefore something else.
"The most important thing on the England shirt is the Three Lions.
"That is the thing that is iconic, that differentiates us even from the England rugby team or the England cricket team."
He continued: "I am a huge patriot. I believe we should celebrate St George's Day more than we do.
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"But the bit I understand is people don't think we should have changed the flag of St George.
"If it's changed then it isn't the flag of St George! So I'm a little bit lost with that element of it."
Nike have defended the jersey despite the strong backlash.
And the FA released a statement on Friday addressing the controversy, insisting the changes to the St George's Cross are meant as a tribute to the England team that won the World Cup back in 1966.
"The new England 2024 Home kit has a number of design elements which were meant as a tribute to the 1966 World Cup winning team," a spokesperson said.
"The coloured trim on the cuffs is inspired by the training gear worn by England’s 1966 heroes, and the same colours also feature on the design on the back of the collar.
"It is not the first time that different coloured St George’s cross-inspired designs have been used on England shirts.
"We are very proud of the red and white St George’s cross – the England flag.
"We understand what it means to our fans, and how it unites and inspires, and it will be displayed prominently at Wembley tomorrow – as it always is – when England play Brazil."
