Legendary Premier League commentator Martin Tyler has suggested that top-flight officials are to introduce new laws to do with home, away and third kits worn by the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham from next season onwards.
A huge part of a club’s identity are their choice of kits each season. Obviously Arsenal are synonymous with red, Chelsea blue and Spurs complete the trio with white for their home strips, whilst supporters can look forward to a variety of colourways introduced for their chosen team’s change outfits.
But Premier League officials, according to Tyler, are set to bring in new regulation that is going to limit a certain design element for all teams in the top-flight.
Chatting on AwayDays’ shirt shopping latest episode, he was highlighting the challenges of a commentator – his chosen career for 33 years as the voice of Sky Sports – and recognising players from their shirt names and numbers at great distances when colours and patterns create a clash.
An example he was looking at was London rivals Brentford’s current home shirt – red and white striped with black block text on the reverse.
“That apparently now for next season will have to squared off, that’s what I’m told,” he revealed to presenter Ellis Platten. So, what this essentially means is teams with any variety of block stripes on their Premier League kits next season would be forced to remove said pattern from the upper reverse only, so that a clean contrast can be made between the colours of the material and text.
Whilst none of the big London trio don stripes on their home shirts, they have been known to dabble with the concept on their away and third variations. For example this season Spurs away shirt even features faint blue and white striped patterning, which could potentially go against this alleged future rule change.
It is a move that would bring the Premier League in line with UEFA, who have implemented the same regulations in the Champions League, Europa League and Europa Conference League.
Supporters may remember Newcastle United, who qualified for the Champions League last term, switching between a fully-striped black and white home shirt in the Premier League one with a plain white back used in Europe.
This would arrive alongside another rumoured radical rule change in the league for next season. Just last week it was reported that clubs will be obliged to provide a player or coach for a half-time interview during matches, plus broadcast cameras inside dressing rooms would become permitted.
