Athletic shirt includes Euskal Herria map

Athletic Club’s new home shirt has become a political story in northern Spain after the Bilbao club said the design includes a map of Euskal Herria and a Basque flag motif on the upper back. The club unveiled the 2026/27 kit on May 20 with the slogan “Gure Nortasuna,” or “Our Identity,” and said each of the shirt’s seven stripes represents one of the seven provinces of Euskal Herria. (athletic-club.eus) The backlash came a day later from Navarra’s conservative regionalist party UPN. (eldiario.es) Cristina Ibarrola, the party’s president, sent letters to Spanish football federation president Rafael Louzán, Athletic president Jon Uriarte and Navarra president María Chivite asking that the kit be stopped, according to elDiario.es and Deia. (athletic-club.eus) ### What exactly did Athletic Club put on the shirt? Athletic Club said on May 20 that the shirt, designed with Castore, was created to tell “the story of the club” through territory and identity. The club’s official description says the seven red-and-white stripes symbolize “the seven provinces of Euskal Herria” and that this shared identity is also shown in “the map of Euskal Herria and the ikurriña” on the top of the back. (athletic-club.eus) The launch material also said the kit was already available in official stores and online. Deia reported the base retail price at 95 euros, with a discount for club members. (eldiario.es) ### Why did the reaction center on Navarra? ElDiario.es reported on May 21 that the dispute focused on the inclusion of Navarra inside the map shown on the shirt. The report said the graphic also includes Treviño and that right-wing parties in Navarra objected to what they saw as a territorial and political message extending beyond sport. Cristina Ibarrola said in a letter quoted by elDiario.es that including a map of “Euskal Herria” alongside an ikurriña on the official kit of a club in national professional competition projected “a political, identity-based and institutionally controversial message.” Deia separately reported that UPN warned it would go to court if the club did not remove the design. (athletic-club.eus) ### Who was involved in the launch? ElDiario.es said the shirt was presented this week with players Nico Williams and Oihan Sancet used as models in the club’s promotional material. Athletic’s own announcement also listed actress Amaia Aberasturi and journalist Dani Álvarez among the participants in the launch video. (eldiario.es) The timing added visibility because Nico Williams was already in the news over his fitness. Athletic had issued a medical report on May 11 covering injuries to both Williams and Sancet. ### Did the controversy affect demand for the shirt? (eldiario.es) ElDesmarque’s Athletic coverage page showed two separate May 21 stories linking the UPN intervention to fan reaction and heightened interest in the new shirt. One headline said “La intrusión de UPN dispara el hype por la nueva camiseta del Athletic,” indicating the political criticism had quickly become part of the sales conversation among supporters. That outlet’s index page does not provide a verified sales figure in the accessible snippet, so there is no public number yet to show how many shirts were sold. (eldiario.es) What is verifiable is that the shirt was put on sale immediately after launch and that media coverage tied the backlash to renewed supporter demand. (athletic-club.eus) ### When will the shirt next be seen? Athletic Club said the new home kit is scheduled to be worn for the first time against Real Madrid at the Bernabéu on Saturday, May 23, in the final round of La Liga. The shirt remains available through the club’s official retail channels as the dispute continues. (athletic-club.eus) (eldesmarque.com)