Question Number: 22739

Law 4 - Players Equipment 1/20/2010

RE: Adult

d jennings of hereford, england asks...

do away teams in premier games have to wear their away strip even if their home strip does not clash with the home team strip
ie if chelsea play liverpool at chelsea ground would liverpool be able to play in their red strip

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi
There will be a Premier League rule on this and as well it will also be part of the jersey promotion deal that the club will have with the shirt manufacturers.
So clubs are probably contracted to use the away kit even when it does not clash. So Liverpool could play away at Chelsea in their home red strip but will use the away kit. You might recall a few years ago where Manchetser United away to Southampton at the Dell changed from their away Grey kit into the team's Blue and White 3rd kit. That was allowed by the officials. The Grey kit was subsequently withdrawn as the players did not like to wear it citing poor visibility plus ill luck.
From a refereeing point of view all the officials are concerned about is to ensure that both teams colours do not clash so as to assist with identification.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Ref McHugh's answer is good all over the world of football.

Leagues normally have rules about teams and which uniform they can wear when, and what to do if there are conflicts.

Referees care about being able to tell one team from the other. If it comes down to it, the referee makes the final decision, but that will be made with the good of the game in mind, and it will follow any league/association rules as far as possible in the interests of fair play.

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