Why has there been such a fuss?

Spain is currently undergoing a sensitive political moment after an illegal referendum in Catalonia, which has laid bare some political dividing lines in the country.

Opposing protesters are taking to the streets in Barcelona, Madrid and elsewhere, while the region's government has been removed and some of its leaders charged with rebellion. The main leader, Carles Puigdemont, is in exile - and citizens across Spain are considering their loyalties and asking themselves: What, exactly, is my country and what does it mean to me?

Catalonia crisis: What next for Spain?

Profile: Carles Puigdemont

So it probably wasn't the best time for something like this to happen.

But in a press release on Tuesday evening, Adidas and the Spanish football federation sought to clarify that "the shirt that the Spanish team will wear during the 2018 World Cup, does not have any political connotations".

The pattern is said to have been inspired by the shirt worn by the Spanish team at the 1994 World Cup in the United States.
Spain's 2018 World Cup kit is red with a yellow, blue and red diamond pattern on the right side.
In 1994, three bands of diamonds, two which were yellow and one navy, ran down the right side of the red Spain jersey.

Getting shirty: when have football shirts become political?

Last year, football's world governing body fined England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland for their use of the poppy to commemorate Armistice day, deeming it to be a political symbol. They later changed their position and lifted the ban.

FC Barcelona are effectively perceived within the region of Catalonia as a national team. They wear the senyera (the Catalan flag) as an alternative kit.

During the 1982-83 season, Brazilian player Socrates organised his Corinthians team-mates into a political force. Brazil was under a military dictatorship at the time, and the then-captain of the Brazil national team protested in favour of democratic elections.

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