Italy’s Serie A Bans Green Kits Starting in 2022-23

In an eyebrow-raising move this week, Serie A — the top division of Italy’s domestic soccer league — has banned clubs from using predominantly green kits, starting in the 2022-23 season.

According to The Athletic and Football Italia, the move will only affect outfield players, not goalkeepers, and came about due to fears that green jerseys blended in too much with pitches, causing confusion among spectators in stadiums, viewers on television, and match officials.

The new regulations for 2022-23 also apply to shorts and socks, and state that if more than three colours are used across the entire kit, one of those colours must be “dominant.”

*Sassuolo (in green and black stripes) takes on Juventus in Serie A action during the 2020-21 season. (Photo courtesy **SassuoloCalcio.it**)*

The only Serie A club to wear predominantly green home outfield kits in 2020-21 was Sassuolo, whose home kits featured green and black stripes. However, Crotone had an olive green third jersey, and Lazio had an all-neon-green away kit.

*Left: Lazio’s 2020-21 away kit. Right: Crotone’s 2020-21 third kit. (Photos courtesy **Football Kit Archive**)*

The change was announced a year early presumably to allow clubs some time to alter kit plans if necessary.

UPDATE (July 17, 2021): According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, the new Serie A rule only applies to away and third kits, and does not apply to predominantly green home kits like Sassuolo’s. The article also mentions U.S. Avellino 1912, which has traditionally had a green home kit and will compete in Serie C this season, as a club that would not have to change should it reach Serie A.

Feature photo courtesy SassuoloCalcio.it