Newcastle change shirts midway through friendly

What the report says

Newcastle United changed shirts during the first half of their pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen at St James’ Park, after the two teams’ kits were judged too similar in colour. Newcastle began the match in their black-and-white home strip with blue trim, but switched to their lilac third kit during the first hydration break. Bayer Leverkusen were wearing a mint away kit with a blue pattern, creating what appeared to be a visibility issue on the pitch.

The decision was made quickly enough to be taken during the break in play, and Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle said he was surprised by the change at kick-off. He added that the adjustment was sensible because the shirts were hard to tell apart, especially from the stands. The switch highlights how kit clashes can affect player and spectator recognition in football, particularly in pre-season matches where clubs may test different strips.

BBC Sport reported that Leverkusen went on to win the game 2-1. The result was secondary to the unusual shirt change, which drew attention because it is uncommon for a team to alter its kit midway through a match. The incident also comes during Newcastle’s broader pre-season build-up, when teams are typically refining tactics, fitness and equipment ahead of competitive fixtures.