UEFA Allows Confusing Similar Kits in Be'er Sheva vs Vikingur Champions League Match
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Hapoel Be'er Sheva and Vikingur wore similar kits in their July 29 Champions League qualifier, causing confusion but receiving referee approval under UEFA rules.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Be'er Sheva and Vikingur wore similar kits causing confusion in a July 29 Champions League qualifier.
- UEFA rules require clear kit differences but do not forbid teams from wearing each other's shorts.
- Home team chooses kit first; referee can demand changes if confusion arises.
- Referee Anthony Bendic approved the kits despite the similarity.
- The incident exposed a loophole in UEFA's kit regulations regarding shorts colors.
On July 29, 2026, Hapoel Be'er Sheva faced Icelandic club Vikingur in the second qualifying round second leg of the UEFA Champions League. Be'er Sheva wore their home kit with red shirts and white shorts, while Vikingur appeared in white shirts and burgundy shorts, resulting in notably similar colors that caused confusion.
According to UEFA regulations, teams must have a clear difference in their kits to avoid confusion, with the home team choosing their kit first and the away team adjusting accordingly. The referee has the final say and can require the home team to change if confusion persists. However, the rules do not explicitly prohibit teams from wearing each other's shorts, which was the case here.
The match referee, Bosnian Anthony Bendic, approved the kits despite the similarity. This unusual situation highlights a gap in UEFA's kit regulations, as the teams' shorts colors overlapped, causing visual confusion but remaining within the rules. The incident sparked questions about how such kit clashes are permitted in high-profile matches like the Champions League qualifiers.
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