The New Zealand FA are reportedly thinking of changing their iconic nickname ‘All Whites’. This has caused mass outrage from New Zealanders and sports fans on social media.
The main argument for fans opposing to this change is that the nickname isn’t enticing any racist remarks and that the country’s national Rugby team’s nickname will still remain ‘All Blacks’. Record goal scorer Vaughan Coveny was also baffled when he heard the news. He like many other fans asked the country to also change the rugby team’s nickname if the Football team’s nickname will change. In an interview he told The Age “Will they also then change the All Blacks? What’s the need to change it? It’s been like that for many years. It’s about the history, the sport and how far it goes back.” He also stated that ‘The All Whites have always been the New Zealand soccer team, ever since I was a kid. From the day you’re born you’re brought up with it, you go through your years playing soccer and looking up to that.”
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The ‘All Whites’ nicknames was first used by a commentator in a World Cup qualifying match vs Taiwan in 1981. The commentator used the nickname as the team were wearing all white kits and it was also a spin on the rugby team’s ‘All Blacks’. As of now the federation have said nothing over the nickname matter, but are looking to make football more inclusive.
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