UEFA To Allow Clubs To Wear Next Season's 20-21 Kits In August 2020 Champions League Return?

Last week, UEFA officially announced that UEFA competitions are set to resume in August. While it is a good news that the Champions League 2019-20 season is set to be finished, it nevertheless means that Champions League final rounds will be taking place much later than usual. But will this mean that we will already see next season's 2020-2021 football shirts on-pitch?

On June 17 2020, UEFA announced that the quarter-finals, semi-finals and the final will be played as a final eight straight knock-out tournament at the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica and the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon between 12 and 23 August 2020. The remaining Round of 16 second-leg matches will be played on the 7/8 August,

UEFA Decisions Regarding August 2020 UEFA Competitions Return

A look at the official UEFA statement reveals that UEFA determined some changes. It is possible for clubs to register three new players (provided such players were already registered and eligible for the club since the last registration deadline) and to make five substitution. However, the official UEFA statement does not feature a sector about kits.

In fact, UEFA has clear rules for which kits teams are able to wear usually. Those rules are in Article 53 of the official UEFA Champions League 2019-20 regulations:

Playing attire used by clubs as of the play-offs must be approved by the UEFA administration. The following deadlines apply for the submission to the UEFA administration of samples of the first-choice and second-choice playing attires for outfield players and goalkeepers as well as any additional playing attires and/or items of playing attire (shirt, shorts or socks):

a. 1 July 2019 for clubs that qualify directly for the play-offs or the group stage;

b. 5 August 2019 for clubs that qualify for the third qualifying round.

This means that clubs are usually only able to wear those kits that they already registered until August 5 2019.

However, there is a chance that UEFA will allow teams to wear next season's kit.

In fact, it was revealed by Spanish newspapers that FC Barcelona will debut next season’s home kit against Espanyol on Wednesday 8 July at the Camp Nou. In the same news, it was also said that "It’s not clear yet if UEFA will allow them to wear the new shirt in the Champions League or if the club will have to stick to this season’s shirt."

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Interestingly, seven years ago, Bayern Munchen wore next season's 2013-14 home kit in the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League final - they already had registered their 2013-2014 kit for the 2012-13 UEFA season.

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