EFL clubs will vote on a decision
Football League clubs could be allowed to wear their away kit when playing home games in order to help colour blind fans under a proposed rule change.
As revealed by the Telegraph, English Football League (EFL) clubs will be asked to vote at their upcoming meeting on Friday to relax the current restrictions on what kits teams can wear for home matches.
Current rules only allow clubs to wear their home shirts for home games
Current regulations state that clubs must wear their home shirt at every game played that season, with only one exception allowed in which they can wear an alternative kit.
This includes the use of commemorative kits or ones that are linked to charitable causes – such as the kits worn by clubs on Boxing Day last year to support the homeless charity Shelter.
While the EFL prepares to vote on Friday, the Premier League has no plans to follow suit in their own meeting and address the issue in their own rulebook, which states that clubs should wear kits that provide a sufficient contrast for colour blind players, match officials and spectators.
CEO of Colour Blind Awareness says the proposed idea is a ‘huge step forward’
In the last two seasons there were nine separate incidents where fans were affected by by kit colour clashes due to colour blindness, according to charity Colour Blind Awareness.
However, Kathryn Albany-Ward, the CEO of Colour Blind Awareness, said that she was happy to hear about the potential rule change from the EFL.
“This is fantastic news and will be a huge step forward for the benefit not just of hundreds of thousands of colour blind fans, but also those players who are colour blind,” she said.
“We know that, statistically, at least one player in every male squad is colour blind and these regulation changes will make some ties easier for these players too, thereby improving overall performance of the teams. If this regulation change is approved, it will be for everyone’s benefit.
“We’re gradually seeing changes to kit regulations across different sports. We hope that the Premier League clubs will follow the lead of the EFL and we’re keeping our fingers firmly crossed for no colour blind kit clashes in the World Cup this year, especially as we know there are colour blind players in the tournament.
“We’re gradually seeing changes to kit regulations across different sports. We hope that the Premier League clubs will follow the lead of the EFL and we’re keeping our fingers firmly crossed for no colour blind kit clashes in the World Cup this year, especially as we know there are colour blind players in the tournament.”
Related links:
- World Rugby to ban matches featuring red and green kits to avoid colour blind clashes
- Fresh images of definitely not Saudi-themed Newcastle away shirt emerge
- Leaked photos show Cristiano Ronaldo wearing new Man Utd kits
