The top flight of Israeli football will become a “colour blind friendly” league after officials announced it will adopt new kit guidelines which will aid supporters who suffer with the issue.

The Israeli Professional Football Leagues (IPFL) Board of Directors approved the initiative, which will see it implement new legislation that define green and red as identical colors, meaning opposing teams won’t be allowed to wear them when playing each other. In such instances, the away team will be required to use its alternate outfit (white/black/stripes); this will also apply to goalkeepers’ kits in games against red or green teams.

The issue was highlighted recently when Israeli champions Hapoel Beer Sheva played Maccabi Haifa, with both teams wearing its traditional colours of red and green. A supporter made a request to solve the confusion colour blind fans suffer, and the IPFL, which “maintains a constant dialogue with its supporters encouraging them to interact and propose improvements to the league”, were swift to act.

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Nicolas Lev, IPFL CEO, said: “The idea of facilitating football matches to assist color blind people touched me personally as I am very familiar with this disability. There is no cure for color blindness, but the simple solution we have found will allow players and fans to fully enjoy the football experience. I call other leagues around the world to follow our initiative to make football accessible to color blind people”

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