Why Adidas Uses Only Two Stripes on Shirt Collars and Cuffs

If you've wondered why Adidas football kits basically never feature their signature three stripes on the collar or sleeve cuffs, there's a good reason - and it comes down to UEFA's and other leagues' equipment regulations.

Football Kit Regulations Block Brandings on Collar & Restrict Number

Under current UEFA rules, visible branding on playing kits is heavily restricted. Specifically, manufacturer branding (like Adidas’ iconic three stripes) is not permitted on the collar, and is heavily restricted on other areas.

As per Article 23 of the official UEFA Equipment Regulations, brands can place a manufacturer design once or repeatedly on one or more items of playing attire in the form of a band on the sleeve, or sides, or cuffs. However, only one is allowed, and not two or three.

The three-stripe motif is legally recognized as part of Adidas' trademark, and placing it on any element counts as an additional brand identifier, which UEFA only permits one of. Since Adidas mostly places the three stripes on the sleeves, the sides and sleeve cuffs cannot have them as well.

That’s why on collars and cuffs, you’ll often see only two stripes - avoiding breaking the rules but still giving a stylish touch.

Interestingly, things weren’t always this way. Back in the 1990s, before today’s tighter equipment regulations came into force, Adidas did feature three stripes on cuffs and collars. However, UEFA already forbade this in the late 1990s, and Adidas had to create a special version of Madrid's 1998-99 home kit with only one stripe on the collar instead of three stripes seen in La Liga.

In rare events, Adidas places their three stripes logo on the sides or the collar - River's 25-26 home kit has them on the end of the sleeves, for example.

Would you like to see the full three-stripes look on the collar and sleeve cuffs? Let us know in the comments.