Black Kits Were Forbidden In English Football Until 1992 - Here Is Why
Jan 28, 2020, by Chris
We are used for football kits to boast wild colors, and every season brands are releasing jerseys in virtually every color that exists. However, that has not always been the case. In fact, some colors were even forbidden to be used by teams Thanks to La Casaca for the hint.
Black Kits Were Reserved For Referees Until 1993 In England
You might not know about it, but until 1992, teams were forbidden to have black jerseys in England due to FA rules. Why? Black is the traditional color worn by officials, and "the man in black" is widely used as an informal term for a referee. Today, a vide range of colors is being used to minimize color clashes.
With the launch of the English Premier League in 1992, the FA decided to drop their ban on clubs wearing black. Following the decision, a vogue of all-black change jerseys began, with Manchester United leading the way in 1993 by releasing an all-black / yellow kit.
Man Utd was the first team to get an all-black kit, and that kit was worn by Eric Cantona when he made that infamous kick, on January 25 1995, around 25 years ago from today.
In fact, in lower-league football, the color black is still reserved for the referees even after all the years in which colourful jerseys have been available for them too. So if you want to play in black, this must always be agreed with the referee.
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Bayern München 26-27 Third Kit Spotted in Store
The upcoming Adidas FC Bayern München 2026-27 third kit has been spotted on display in an Adidas retail store ahead of its official release.
Boca Juniors 26-27 Away Kit: Full Look Leaked
@KamilBerberler provides us with a full look at the Boca Juniors 26-27 away kit. It pays homage to the club's classic 2006-07 away strip. We can leak three new product images of the shirt.
Nottingham Forest Announce Marex Front-of-Shirt Sponsorship Deal
Nottingham Forest have officially announced a multi-year Principal Partnership with global financial services platform Marex. Starting with the 26-27 season, Marex will serve as the club's new front-of-shirt sponsor, replacing gambling brand Bally's. The agreement is reported to be worth approximately £25 million over a three-year period.
The clean Marex wordmark and arrow logo will be featured across the front of the Nottingham Forest men's and women's first-team playing and replica kits, as well as the club's netball team dresses. In addition to primary kit placement, Marex will become Forest's official Global Markets Partner and exclusive provider of foreign exchange and financial services.
The announcement resolves Forest's search for a principal partner just ahead of the new Premier League campaign, following a pre-season without a front-of-shirt sponsor. The transition also aligns with the Premier League's upcoming voluntary ban on gambling companies occupying front-of-shirt sponsorship inventory.