The Ref Stop

USA v Belgium kit clash

Donate to RefChat

Help keep RefChat running, any donation would be appreciated

D

DJIC

RefChat Addict
Quite incredible anyone signed this off or the referee allowed the match to start?

youtube.com

✂️ USA v Belgium

15 seconds · Clipped by DJIC · Original video "USMNT Defense Concedes Five In A Row | USMNT 2-5 Belgium | Official Highlights" by B/R Football
youtube.com youtube.com
 
The Ref Stop
I watched this and thought the exact same thing.
Was really hard to tell who was who on the tv.
Tried to pay more attention, I thought, to shorts and socks but then one had white shorts and black socks whilst the other had black shorts and white socks. Again, watching on tv distance it was hard to split them up.
 
DJIC said:
Quite incredible anyone signed this off or the referee allowed the match to start?

youtube.com

✂️ USA v Belgium

15 seconds · Clipped by DJIC · Original video "USMNT Defense Concedes Five In A Row | USMNT 2-5 Belgium | Official Highlights" by B/R Football
youtube.com youtube.com
Click to expand...
Let’s be realistic. There is NO way a referee in an international friendly is EVER going to make the call not to let the game proceed. The uniforms were worked out in advance—poorly, as no one really tuned into the virtually white shirts for Belgium and the backs of the U.S. uniforms.
 
socal lurker said:
Let’s be realistic. There is NO way a referee in an international friendly is EVER going to make the call not to let the game proceed. The uniforms were worked out in advance—poorly, as no one really tuned into the virtually white shirts for Belgium and the backs of the U.S. uniforms.
Click to expand...
He/she can insist on a change of kit, they are likely at the ground probably the day before & 2+ hours before the match starts.

England wore their away kit at Wembley v Uruguay.
 
DJIC said:
England wore their away kit at Wembley v Uruguay.
Click to expand...
The thing is, we wore the away kit to help market it as it was newly released. I think we do this every time a new one comes out?

Most games in these friendlies will be in the same light trying to market these new kits, so that is probably why this issue has happened.
 
I think on the ground this would not have looked that bad which is why the game proceeded. Not great for the Tele but certainly can distinguish enough in that clip to say it was probably not as evident to the match officials.
 
DJIC said:
He/she can insist on a change of kit, they are likely at the ground probably the day before & 2+ hours before the match starts.

England wore their away kit at Wembley v Uruguay.
Click to expand...
Not really. At that level it has been arranged in advance. And apparently for the international friendly it’s an hour before. And neither team had an alternate kit at the site. So, no, there is no way the R is going to delay the start of the game to make a team change kit in this context. In theory does the R have authority to do that. Sure. Bit not happening here in the real world.

JamesL said:
I think on the ground this would not have looked that bad which is why the game proceeded. Not great for the Tele but certainly can distinguish enough in that clip to say it was probably not as evident to the match officials.
Click to expand...

I imagine that before hand everyone thought it would be ok. But on the field, the players actually complained that it was hard to tell from a quick look and they thought it affected play. (For ARs, I imagine they paid attention to the shorts.)

This was a screw up. But I don’t think the real fault lies with the refs. It’s with the teams/federations who wanted to wear the particular kits and OKed them in advance. (I suspect both teams wanted to roll out both their new kits in their two games this window so they could sell shirts.)

EDIT TO ADD: Apparently once on the field the U.S. team considered going back to the hotel to get their other kits, but concluded they wouldn’t be able to get back by halftime.
 
Last edited:
I said the same, if you look at the front of the kits, side by side, you’d say no major issue, but the backs are the main problem
 
DJIC said:
He/she can insist on a change of kit, they are likely at the ground probably the day before & 2+ hours before the match starts.

England wore their away kit at Wembley v Uruguay.
Click to expand...
Not at that level, it is sorted out well before anyone gets to the ground. If the authorities have OK'd the kits the match officials really aren't going to get involved especially, as others have said, the kits would have looked fine from the front. Even if the referee wanted a change there's nothing to do either club would even have their away kit with them. I know that sounds nonsensical, but as the kits are agreed in advance there's not really any need to take them.

No comparison for England wearing red last week as that was (a) a marketing exercise and (b) agreed in advance.
 
RustyRef said:
Not at that level, it is sorted out well before anyone gets to the ground. If the authorities have OK'd the kits the match officials really aren't going to get involved especially, as others have said, the kits would have looked fine from the front. Even if the referee wanted a change there's nothing to do either club would even have their away kit with them. I know that sounds nonsensical, but as the kits are agreed in advance there's not really any need to take them.

No comparison for England wearing red last week as that was (a) a marketing exercise and (b) agreed in advance.
Click to expand...
The England comparison was that the home team don't have to wear their home kit.

I do find it incredible that whoever signs off the kit, has only one job, check the front & back of the shirt!
 
DJIC said:
The England comparison was that the home team don't have to wear their home kit.

I do find it incredible that whoever signs off the kit, has only one job, check the front & back of the shirt!
Click to expand...
It shouldn't happen, but it does. I was on a step 3 line and the team sheets said red and white stripes vs blue and white stripes so we didn't think anything of it. Then we left the changing room with the teams already lined up in the tunnel and all we could see was white, there was no red or blue on the back of the shirts or the sleeves and we realised we were in a world of trouble. Neither club had a change of kit so we just had to get on with it, the only way I could judge offsides was by the shorts and socks.
 
Most competitions I've been involved in which pre-determine kit colours, go off picture submissions before the comp starts. Those pics only show the front of the shirts and shorts and there lies the problem.
 
one said:
Most competitions I've been involved in which pre-determine kit colours, go off picture submissions before the comp starts. Those pics only show the front of the shirts and shorts and there lies the problem.
Click to expand...
Had a game, Sunday morning league, where home team had an approved kit of yellow and black stripes but a plain black back. Their numbering was an outline of white.
Amount of complaints I got from their own team passing to me because I was wearing black and it confused them.. said tough. Should've thought of that before they got these shirts
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top