LIVERPOOL’S 0-0 draw with Manchester United in January 2021 might have gone unnoticed in the momentous history of games between the two sides – were it not for one incredible fact.
The stalemate drew a record number of complaints online – triggering Premier League changes, raising awareness of a huge but little-known problem and prompting the Red Devils into a telling switch for Sunday’s repeat trip to Anfield.
Many TV viewers moaned they could not distinguish the red of Liverpool from the dark green of United.
That left the match “unwatchable” for some” – and unforgivable for others.
UK-based Colour Blind Awareness say one in 12 men and one in 200 women would have been unable to tell the two kits apart – due to “colour vision deficiency”.
But the organisation believes the outpouring of frustration from viewers of that Premier League match helped lead to positive action in football.
It’s also led to United switching to white gear for this weekend’s visit to the Prem leaders.
Colour Blind Awareness CEO Kathryn Albany-Ward told ESPN: “That game between Liverpool and Manchester United led to the most complaints we have ever had.
“We’ve been working on the kit issue since 2015.
“So that game in 2021 shows how much work there is still to be done to get the message across to clubs, especially as there have been kit clashes in the Premier League this season.”
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Albany-Ward singled out three games – Luton vs. Tottenham, Manchester City vs Spurs (due to Tottenham’s greyish third kit) and Arsenal v the Red Devils (green again).
She added: “So although there have been some changes for the better, including this weekend’s Liverpool vs. Man United match kit selection, there is still a long way to go.”
A United source told ESPN that “valid concerns” from “many people affected” had led to their kit change on Sunday.
And Prem chiefs have issued clubs with a nine-page document on how to avoid issues over colour blindness.
The information states that flags tend to cause the biggest headache.
The worst colour clashes appear to be red against green or black and green against orange.
Meanwhile, the match officials’ organisation PGMOL have set up an online software tool with a “colour blind-friendly flag”.
It alerts clubs if a colour clash is likely and encourages them to find alternatives.
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