French Championnat National (third division) club SC Bastia wore a special one-off red kit in Friday's match against Avranches. Let us find out why, with information from French equipment experts Footpack.
Bastia 20-21 Home, Away & Third Kits Released - Back to Back Promotions
Red SC Bastia 20-21 Fourth Kit
Based on the red Adidas Tabela 18 shirt, the one-off Bastia 20-21 kit does not have any bespoke elements other than the sponsors logos and the club badge.
Interestingly, red is also the color of their rivals AC Ajaccio or even OGC Nice, what "shocked" fans according to Footpack.
Jean-Philippe Thibaudeau, the communication manager of SC Bastia explained Footpack why they wore the red jersey:
"It is a spare jersey. Our first jersey is blue with white stripes, the second white with blue stripes and the third entirely black! Given that many teams play in white or blue in National that the black jersey can be a problem with the referee trio or with a team playing in dark blue, we decided to take a set of emergency jerseys totally out of step with the rest of the colors of the National teams. Wise decision since our three jerseys were refused against Avranches."
"Historically attached to blue and white, SC Bastia has however already used red on its jerseys since the beginning of the 90s, it is already the 5th time that the Corsican club wears such a jersey. On these five matches, the report is without appeal since it is four victories and only one defeat which were recorded with this color. Enough to give ideas for the future? The next step could be the sale of these jerseys worn against Avranches and which will remain in posterity especially since they bore the badge of the Bleuet de France in honor of the victims of wars and attacks."
What do you think of Bastia's red third jersey? Comment below.