US sportswear giant Nike has pulled trainers emblazoned with an early version of the US flag after a complaint from former NFL star Colin Kaepernick, according to reports.

The Betsy Ross flag was used by the American Nazi Party as a symbol.

Mr Kaepernick sparked a furore by kneeling at American football games to protest against police violence against African-Americans.

He then fronted a major advertising campaign for Nike.

Nike withdrew the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July trainers, which were intended to celebrate US Independence Day, after Mr Kaepernick said the firm should not use a symbol he and others may find offensive, Bloomberg reported.

The Betsy Ross flag, with a circle of 13 stars, was created during the American Revolution and later adopted for use by the American Nazi party.

It is also used by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

“Nike has chosen not to release the Air Max 1 Quick Strike Fourth of July as it featured the old version of the American flag,” a Nike spokesperson said.