UEFA Kit Color Blindness Simulation - Why Dark vs Light Is The Ideal
Jan 16, 2021, by Chris
Have you ever wondered why FIFA and other football government organizations are so strict with the color of kit and the light / dark kit rule? This is not only for TV but also for color blind people.
As part of a campaign to maximise awareness and improve the experience of colour blind people in football, the English Football Association and UEFA have joined forces with the Colour Blind Awareness organisation to produce a guide booklet.
One in 12 men (8%) inherit red/green colour blindness
What Is Colour Blindness?
Colour blindness is the inability to perceive colours normally. It is one of the world’s most common genetic conditions. However, colour blindness is under-recognised and poorly understood.
How Likely Is It To Be Colour Blind?
Approximately one in 12 men (8%) inherit red/green colour blindness but only 1 in 200 (0.5%) of women do. Colour blindness is very common in men because it’s carried on the X-chromosome. Men only have one X chromosome, but women have two. For a woman to be colour blind she must inherit colour blindness on both of her X-chromosomes.
UEFA Simulates How Color Blind People See Kits
UEFA released various images that show how we (non-colorblind) see and how a colorblind sees the game - the ideal is to always have a light and a dark team.
It is actually impossible for colorblind people to distinguish some teams in some matches
It is actually impossible for colorblind people to distinguish some teams when they are wearing certain kit colors - the kit combinations which cause the greatest problems for colour-blind people are:
- Red v black
- Red v green v orange
- Bright green v yellow
- White v pastel colours
- Blue v deep purple/pink
Below is another example illustrating the difference in how a non-colorblind and a colorblind see uniforms.
Color Blindness - Issues in Football
- Kit clashes - between players, goalkeepers, match officials, the playing surface
- Equipment - balls, bibs, training cones, line markings
- Venues - facilities, way-finding, safety signage, lighting
- Information - digital, ticket purchasing, matchday programmes
- TV coverage - graphics, long-distance camera angles
Best-practice kit combinations:
UEFA also made a short overview of which kit combos are good to distinguish for color blind people.
The more colour combinations there are in a kit, the more likely it is that kit clashes will arise. This can be an issue for your own players as well as spectators, so it’s important to avoid kit clashes as far as possible. For example, blue v white kit can easily be distinguished, as the photo below shows.
Good kit colour combinations for people with colour blindness
- White v black
- Red v yellow
- Black v yellow
- Blue v bright reds
- Blue v yellow
Do you now understand why FIFA is so strict regarding their light / dark kit rule? Were you aware of color blind people and their issues in football? Comment below.
Adidas x Poland
We finally got the first detailed information about the return of the Three Stripes to Poland. More very soon.
Giant Adidas Three Stripes on Long-Sleeve Kits Overwhelm Aesthetic
Adidas introduced enlarged Three Stripes across its performance templates ahead of the 2026 World Cup, rolling the look out across club teams for the 26-27 season. Designed to maximize on-pitch brand visibility, the wider striping measures around 18mm across. However, its competitive rollout has drawn criticism from kit enthusiasts and fans who feel the oversized proportions overwhelm the aesthetic balance of modern kits.
The visual disruption is especially noticeable on long-sleeved shirts. When worn on the pitch by players like Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes, the thick white stripes command the shoulders and arms, dwarfing surrounding elements like the collar and sleeve patches. While short-sleeved shirts offer breaks in coverage, the continuous run of oversized stripes down full-length sleeves makes the branding feel excessively dominant.
Despite the pushback, Adidas will retain this oversized stripe template through at least the 27-28 campaign.
SK Brann 2026 Third Kit Released
Norwegian club SK Brann and Nike have officially unveiled their new third kit for the 2026 season, paying tribute to the club's historic 1976 Norwegian Cup-winning side on its 50th anniversary.
The jersey is predominantly white, highlighted by red vertical striping running down the right chest behind the red Nike Swoosh, red sponsor branding, and a monochrome red club crest. Debuted on pitch during their Eliteserien away clash against Sandefjord, the new release completes Brann's 2026 kit collection alongside their previously launched home and away shirts.
Rochdale AFC 26-27 Third Kit Released
Rochdale AFC and Irish kit manufacturer O'Neills have officially unveiled the club's new third kit for the 26-27 season. The shirt features a vibrant yellow base adorned with an all-over wave graphic inspired by the local River Roch. It is framed by bold black accents on the v-neck collar, sleeve cuffs, and side panels, while a centrally stacked monochrome Rochdale crest, O'Neills logo, and Crown Oil sponsor complete the look.
CD Nacional 26-27 Away Kit Released
Portuguese Primeira Liga club CD Nacional has officially unveiled its new away kit for the 26-27 season, designed by Italian brand Kappa. The Madeira-based side completes their lineup for the campaign with an eye-catching, refined colorway.
The Kappa CD Nacional 2026-27 away shirt is predominantly golden, accented with subtle white vertical pinstripes running down the front and back. The jersey features a classic polo collar trimmed in white, detailed with the club's founding year, 1910, placed in the neckline insert. Both the Kappa Omini logo and the CD Nacional crest are centered on the chest in white and gold, above the white Coral Cerveja sponsor print.
PSM Makassar 26-27 Home Kit Released
Indonesian club PSM Makassar and Adidas have officially launched their new home kit for the 26-27 season. Featuring the club's signature maroon base, the shirt introduces a patterned horizontal design across the front panel paired with a monochrome Pinisi boat crest on the left chest. Complemented by white Three Stripes on the shoulders, a white collar trim, and cultural Lontara script on the upper back, the strip is available in both short-sleeve and long-sleeve versions.
Adidas River Plate 27-28 Trefoil Track Jacket Concept
A few days ago, we leaked the Adidas 2027-2028 away jacket template. Based on our leak, an Adidas Club Atlético River Plate 'OG' track jacket concept was shared to us.
The Adidas River 27-28 away jacket concept design is white with bold red shoulder panels highlighted by white piping. A black horizontal chest band cuts across the front and flows into curved sections along the sleeves, balanced by light grey lower sleeve panels. The retro package is rounded off with a traditional high funnel neck collar, ribbed trims, a black Trefoil logo, and the iconic CARP shield crest on the chest.