Color blindness campaigners have attacked the Football Association after a clash between Sunderland and Newcastle kits left thousands frustrated.
The home side’s red and white striped jerseys versus the visitors’ black and white during Saturday’s FA Cup third round meant there was not enough contrast to allow the colour-blind crowd to distinguish between the two teams.
It is the latest in a long line of clashes that have led to game-destroying problems for colorblind people, with one in 12 men and one in 200 women affected.
Kathryn Albany-Ward, founder of Color Blind Awareness, wrote a UEFA-backed paper on the issue for the FA and recently addressed a meeting of club secretaries from the Premier League, including Newcastle, in November.
“I wrote to the FA’s head of diversity, equality and inclusion after the Charlton v Cray Valley Paper Mills match which caused problems and got no response,” she explained.
Color blindness campaigners have hit out at the Football Association after a clash between Sunderland and Newcastle’s kits left thousands frustrated
Sunderland’s red and white striped jerseys were contrasted against the visitors’ black and white jerseys, meaning there was insufficient contrast for the colour-blind crowd to distinguish between each side
Kathryn Albany-Ward, founder of Color Blind Awareness, wrote to the FA’s head of diversity, equality and inclusion, Yasir Mirza (pictured), after Saturday’s kit clash
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“I wrote to him (Yasir Mirza) again after Saturday’s match and initially heard nothing.” After Mail Sport contacted the FA this morning, a response was sent this afternoon. “I was told there were ‘guidelines’ in the rules to advise clubs on the need to take colorblind people into account, but that is of little use if there are no sanctions – and there aren’t,” said Albany-Ward . added. “The responses are really disappointing and you have to wonder what it will take for the problem to be resolved.”
Two Premier League managers are believed to be colour-blind and it is likely that a number of top players are also affected given its prevalence.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has previously said he was ‘a bit colour-blind’, while ex-Manchester United interim Ralf Rangnick told Leipzig’s website that he suffers from red-green vision deficiency. Mail Sports columnist Chris Sutton announced this in the podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off’ that he had difficulty distinguishing between striped shirts during his playing career.
“Clubs that do this are punishing themselves, let alone the public,” Albany-Ward added. ‘Such clashes will have consequences for their players and members of their own coaching staff. Do clubs not want to help their own players? The explanation I have had before is that some lower division clubs in the FA Cup cannot afford different kits if a clash occurs. This was a match between two big clubs and there were other alternatives available.”
Red and green are the most common colors that cause problems. Many have trouble seeing red and will have seen the match as a clash between two sides with black and white stripes. For others it would have been a match between two sides wearing white.
The problem appears to be improving in the Premier League, after a history of clashes. Manchester United recently wore white, instead of green, during their trip to Liverpool with those who are color blind in mind. A simple solution is for one side to wear a dark outfit and the other to opt for a light outfit.
In 2021, Chelsea’s decision to wear light blue for a match at Sheffield United – instead of their traditional, darker blue – caused major problems. That jersey looked white to those with color vision deficiency, while the Blades’ red socks blended into the grass and were indistinguishable from Chelsea’s.
The Premier League has software designed to flag potential problems, although there were five clashes in the 2020/21 season.
UEFA regulations state that there must be ‘a clear contrast between the clothing of the first-choice and second-choice field players, insofar as these may be worn by the opponents during a match’, but there is no specific provision for clashes that could cause this. impact people with color blindness.
European matches between Arsenal (red) and Sporting CP (green) and Manchester United (red) and Real Betis (green) have also caused problems.
Red and green are the most common colors that cause problems for people who are color blind
Things are looking a little better in the top flight, with Manchester United recently wearing white, rather than green, on their trip to Liverpool with those who are colour-blind in mind
In the presentation made in November, Premier League clubs were told that with an average TV audience of 1.53 million people, there was a good chance that 91,800 viewers would be color blind. In a stadium with a capacity of 50,000, 3,000 would be affected.
The FA made no comment. If they receive information about potential clashes, it will be shared with the clubs for consideration. The guidelines state that kits should be “distinguishable in a manner that allows color blind individuals to distinguish between them.”
Newcastle and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport declined to comment. It is not thought this issue will fall under the remit of the next independent football regulator as their role will focus on financial matters. Sports Minister Stuart Andrew is colour-blind.
ITV also declined to comment, with insiders suggesting they have little say over kit choices. Sunderland declined to comment, although as the home team they are entitled to wear their first-choice kit.