Sports Direct recently faced backlash for misspelling ‘Cymru’ as ‘Cyrmu’ on Welsh beanie hats. The error was first noticed by fans at a Wales women’s Euro 2025 playoff final, but gained traction on social media where users pointed out the mistake and poked fun at the retail giant. Despite the hats being removed from the website, they are still available for purchase in-store.
Critics on social media were quick to point out the mistake and criticize Sports Direct for the blunder. Welsh brand Penwisg even showcased their hats with the correct spelling of ‘Cymru’ and assured customers of the accuracy of their merchandise. The hats, priced at £6, have become a target for fans hoping they will become a collector’s item once removed from stores.
The incident with the misspelled hats is not the first time the Welsh language has caused embarrassing mishaps. In the past, road signs with incorrect translations and mistaken advertisements have made headlines. The Welsh language has been subject to mockery and errors, with incidents such as a road sign in Monmouthshire leading drivers to ‘town egg gas’ and a supermarket in Cwmbran mistakenly advertising ‘free alcohol’ instead of ‘alcohol-free’.
When questioned about the misspelling by a BBC reporter, fans wearing the hats expressed their disappointment and called for better quality control from Sports Direct. The mistake has garnered attention online and has become a topic of conversation among social media users. Despite the error, fans are still showing interest in purchasing the hats in hopes of owning a unique collector’s item in the future.
Overall, the misspelled ‘Cymru’ hats have sparked controversy and ridicule towards Sports Direct for their oversight. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of accuracy and attention to detail when producing merchandise with cultural significance. Despite the backlash, the hats remain available for purchase and may potentially become sought-after items among collectors. The incident highlights the need for companies to be mindful of cultural nuances and language translations to avoid such errors in the future.
