Some days ago, we took a detailed look at FIFA's 104-page Equipment Regulations guide which defines what manufactures are allowed and not allowed with their jersey designs for the 2018 World Cup. Now we want to take a look at some of the most famous examples of FIFA banning kits / forces teams to release new kits.
2002-2004: Puma's 'Revolutionary' Sleeveless & Puma's One-Piece Are Banned
More than a decade ago, Puma successfully maximized attention provoking FIFA by releasing 'revolutionary' shirts that breach with the designs of traditional football jerseys. Puma partnered Cameroon National Team arrived at the Africa Cup of Nations without sleeves and won the 2002 Africa Cup. FIFA banned these shirts after the tournament.
In 2004, the "Indomitable Lions" followed up with their equally controversial one-piece PUMA UniQT, which removed unnecessary bulk and limited shirt-grabs by opponents. FIFA punishes the team by revoking six points in the qualification for the 2006 World Cup and imposes a fine. PUMA launches a public campaign in support of Cameroon and sues FIFA against the prohibition of the jersey. The legal dispute ends with a compromise and a shared donation to a football development project in Cameroon.
Puma's 'experiments' led FIFA to introduce restrictive kit rules
However, all this lead FIFA to make their kit rules more strict than they had been before. In example, to avoid such situations moving forward, FIFA now requires manufacturers to submit all designs one year in advance.
Principle of Light & Dark Shirts - Spain 2014 World Cup Home & Away Kits Not Different Enough
In the 2014 World Cup, FIFA was not happy with the colors of Spain's 2014 World home and away kits because they would be too similar (Principle of light and dark shirts). FIFA therefore forced Adidas to release a special one-off all-white third kit that was not sold to public.
Adidas, Spain's equipment supplier, said back then that "FIFA has expressly mandated" it to supply Spain with white jerseys for the defending champions' opener against the Dutch on June 13. The shorts and socks of the new Spain 2014 World Cup Third Kit are white with red accents.
However, what might be even more interesting and quite insane is that Spain faced Netherlands just four years earlier, in the 2014 World Cup final, wearing their navy away kit against Netherlands' orange home kit. In fact, Cameroon also wore an unknown white kit in a friendly a few days ahead of the 2014 World Cup. The shirt was not used in the 2014 World Cup, however.
Sleeves Must Be Identical in Color - France Euro 2016 Away Kit
18 months ago in the Euro 2016 in France, Nike had to produce a special all-white kit for France featuring almost all-white sleeves instead of the blue and red sleeves because UEFA was not happy.
Do you know other examples when teams were required to change their kit / release a new kit because of Kit Regulations? Share your thoughts in the comments below.