8
For NFL games fans are expected to follow coloured routes.
Red, amber and green lights are used to show which concession is coming through the turnstile. Concern was
expressed for any colour blind stewards. Most fans present didn’t know when colours changed at turnstile entry
so listened for the ‘click’ rather than waiting to see the light turn green.
Comments
“You’re normally with other people so you just follow them.”
2.4 The Match
Most weeks there are kit clashes where colours are hard to distinguish, even when teams clearly don’t need to
change from their usual home kit.
The group raised some recent kit clashes, particularly involving West Ham United who have had kit clashes for
their most recent three consecutive games. Disappointment was expressed that clashes are still happening even
though the FA Guidance has been available for over a year. The was a general feeling that obligations to sponsors
and the ability to sell replica kits are the main reasons behind this and also that kit clashes are happening more
often. There are also issues with referees clashing with teams, quite often with goalkeepers. Numbers on stripes
can also be difficult to determine.
There was a lengthy discussion around kit regulations and how to resolve the issues, and a clear lack of sympathy
as to reasons why this hasn’t yet been resolved. The consensus was it this was not always terrible in the stands but
watching on TV can be impossible.
Pitch markings can also be an issue especially blue in frosty or snowy conditions.
AC Milan v Inter Milan (red +black v blue+black) for two seasons running when they were both quite dark kits, it
was like twenty two people in dark / black kits. But when the kits were lighter tones in the past it worked ok.
The Sheffield derby didn’t used to cause an issue in the past. But now it’s more difficult. Is this down to the
shades or material?
An ex-referee on the panel has asked teams to change kits due to a colour clash; running the line has actually
stopped games and asked the referee to get the goalkeeper to change shirts as he can’t see it.
The role of the referee was in determining kits used on the day was discussed at some length. The group felt that
the onus is on competition organisers and governing bodies to resolve kit clashes.
Some specific examples were given:
o Spurs visiting Leicester City and wearing dark blue
o Burnley in blue v Leicester City but with different colour shorts.
o Manchester City in dark blue v Leicester City.
o Forest Green Rovers are harder to see in daylight
o Barnet v Oxford Utd, orange v yellow. Referee said it was a colour clash and got Oxford to wear
Barnet’s away kit
o Liverpool v PSG, PSG wore a special Michael Jordan themed kit in black against Liverpool’s red
o Leicester City v Liverpool in a friendly. Black v red
o Southampton played Leicester in a variation of the third kit and it was hard to see.
o Borehamwood v Gateshead, white v pale green when floodlights came on couldn’t see.
o Tottenham Hotspur’s mint green kit is hard to see. Spurs v Newcastle should be ok but wasn’t
due to mint green v a lot of white
o Tranmere Rovers v Borehamwood – blue and white v pale blue