Man Utd, Liverpool match sparks complaints

Fans affected by colour blindness struggled to distinguish between two kits on TV on Sunday

LONDON:

Sunday's Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United prompted "hundreds" of complaints from fans affected by colour blindness as they struggled to distinguish between the two kits on TV, Colour Blind Awareness CEO Kathryn Albany-Ward said.

United have used a white-and-black change kit this season but switched to what supplier Adidas described as a "legend earth green" strip against Liverpool, who wore their traditional red outfit.

"It happens all the time," Albany-Ward told ESPN. "We have had Southampton v Sheffield United and recently Liverpool v Man United. But Sunday was the most kit clash complaints we have ever had. We had hundreds and spent all morning trying to collate them all. It is a really common problem, and it is a big problem because of the amount of people affected. It affects 1 in 12 people."

In 2015, the US National Football League pledged to address colour blindness for televised games after complaints from fans. Albany-Ward wants domestic broadcasters to back a similar approach in English soccer.

"The Premier League does act, and they do notify the clubs, as they know when these clashes will happen. I know because I was in touch with them," Albany-Ward said. "They told United of this issue and United suggested a solution, but what they decided was not sufficient."