Kit Clash: Newcastle Changes Shirts Mid-Match Against Bayer Leverkusen
1 hour ago, by Chris
- Mid-Match Kit Change: Newcastle United was forced to change their shirts mid-game during a pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen at St James' Park due to a bizarre kit clash.
- Cause of Confusion: The visual similarity between Newcastle's black-and-white home kit and Bayer Leverkusen's pale mint away strip led to noticeable confusion on the pitch, prompting referee officials to instruct a change around the 24th minute.
- Sideline Resolution and Impact: Newcastle players stripped on the sideline and swapped into their lilac third kit shirts, resulting in a mismatched uniform for the rest of the match, which a Leverkusen coach confirmed helped improve play by reducing confusion.
A bizarre kit clash occurred during Newcastle United's pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen at St James' Park, forcing the Premier League side to undergo an emergency shirt change right on the touchline during the first half.
Sideline Kit Change at St James' Park
Newcastle United kicked off the match in their barcode black-and-white 26-27 home kit, while Bayer Leverkusen lined up in their pale mint away strip. From the opening minutes, the visual similarity between the light elements of both kits caused noticeable confusion on the pitch and in the stands. Around the 24th minute, refereeing officials utilized a scheduled hydration break to resolve the issue, instructing the hosts to switch out of their home shirts.
Instead of heading into the dressing room, the Newcastle outfield players stripped down on the sideline and swapped into their lilac 26-27 third kit shirts. Because they retained their black home shorts and socks, the Magpies spent the remainder of the match playing in a makeshift, mismatched kit combination.
After the game, Leverkusen coach Carles Martínez (42) explained how he had experienced the jersey issue from the bench: “Of course, I hadn’t checked beforehand which jerseys the opponent was wearing. But I noticed it right from the very first second. During a Newcastle chance, the players were thrown off - that’s what Miguel Gutierrez had told me. It was good that the jerseys were changed afterward, and we were able to play better after that.”
Also, with the pale pink, the color difference was not perfect, but surely better.
VfB Lübeck 26-27 Home Kit Released
German Regionalliga Nord side VfB Lübeck and kit manufacturer Capelli Sport have officially unveiled the club's new home shirt for the 26-27 season, following up the release of the away kit. The Capelli VfB Lübeck 26-27 home jersey features a vibrant green base detailed with thin white vertical pinstripes and a subtle tonal diagonal texture across the front.
OH Leuven 26-27 Away Kit Released
Belgian Pro League club Oud-Heverlee Leuven have officially unveiled their new 2026-27 away kit. Made by Jako, the new shirt introduces a bold dark look for the upcoming domestic campaign.
The Jako OH Leuven 2026-27 away shirt features a black base with deep green vertical stripes and vibrant orange pinstripes running down the body. Dark green detailing appears on the collar and sleeve cuffs, while the Jako logo and club crest are centrally positioned on the chest.
What do you think of the new OH Leuven 2026-27 away kit? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.