UEFA Bans Striped Shirts with Solid Backs

Update: It seems like that the new UEFA Kit rules are not applied in the 2018-2019 season. CSKA Moscow wore their 18-19 Umbro home kit featuring a mainly red front and a blue back, something that is forbidden in UEFA's Equipment regulations in Article 8.02. Thanks to @hendocfc for the spot.

The dominant colour (or colours in the case of hooped, banded, striped or checked items) must be equally visible on the back and front of each item of playing attire, excluding the number zone on the back of shirts

We expect that the UEFA kit rules will come into effect from the 2019-2020 season.

With a new 'license cycle' kicking off, there have been more than a few subtle changes added to this year's Champions League: from FIFA becoming the official video game to new sponsors, kick-off times and rules. Another change comes in the form of an updated kit rules catalog, something we wrote about extensively on here before.

For the first time in six years, UEFA updated its kit regulations, introducing interesting changes. These rules apply to all major UEFA competitions, such as the Champions League, Europa League, Nations League and Euro.

Milan 16-17 Kit

What has been doing the rounds on Twitter, though, and understably so, is the fact that UEFA appears to have banned shirts that have stripes, hoops or similar patterns on the front and solid backs.

As per 8.03 of the kit regulations (check out the full PDF here):

The colours used to create a hooped, banded, striped or checked shirt on the front must both be clearly visible on the back of the playing attire if the same pattern (e.g. stripes) is not used on the back of the playing shirt

Attached is an image which better explains the whole thing:

Apparently, something like Watford's home kit would not be allowed in an UEFA competition. It's a welcome change.

In other kit regulation 'news', although this part is not new, the very next point states that it's forbidden to use reflective materials in any part of a kit. Therefore, it's likely that the player issue of Chelsea's new third kit will not have the same reflective features as the replica.

Are you happy to see this change? Drop us a line below.