Barcelona Again Forced to Wear Old 24-25 Third Kit
- Kit Clash: Barcelona was forced to wear their old third kit because all three of their new 25-26 kits were too similar to RCD Mallorca’s home kit.
- Nike's Failure: Nike did not provide alternative yellow shorts and socks for the Mamba away kit, even though the yellow shirt itself did not clash with Mallorca’s kit.
- Upcoming Match: The kit issue will persist in the upcoming match against Levante, as their dark red and blue stripes are also incompatible with Barcelona’s 25-26 kits.
Barcelona were forced to open their 2025-26 La Liga campaign in last season’s third kit after all three of their new 25-26 full kits were ruled too similar to RCD Mallorca’s home kit. And as it looks, we will see the old third kit right away again.
In their 3-0 away win on August 16, Barça took the field in the lime green 2024-25 third kit. La Liga decided that their new home, gold away, and recently launched orange third kit (launched after the match, but not suitable as well) all clashed with Mallorca’s red and black colors, and, particularly, the black shorts and socks.
Barcelona wore the Mamba away kit in the pre-season match against Seoul - the black shorts clash was no problem for the referee, unlike as in La Liga
Nike failed to provide Barcelona with alternative yellow shorts and socks for the Mamba away kit
However, the yellow away shirt actually does not clash with Mallorca’s kit, but Nike failed to provide Barcelona with alternative yellow shorts and socks, apparently.
The issue is set to continue this weekend when Barça visit newly promoted Levante. Like Barcelona, Levante wear dark red and blue stripes, which the league has deemed incompatible with all three of Barça’s 25-26 kits.
According to SPORT, La Liga’s “Kit Selector” system determines permitted match combinations, with the final call made by the match director- and the referee still able to intervene if needed.
Interestingly, back in 2014, Barcelona was allowed to wear orange away against Levante. La Liga is stricter today, apparently.
Barcelona is starting the new season with three consecutive away matches.
Do you think Nike should have provided alternative yellow shorts for the 2025-26 away kit? Let us know in the comments.
