A children's football team is poised to fold after the FA banned them from playing in this season’s kit – because it’s sponsored by a tattoo studio.

Kings Heath Concorde under-10s squad has been told that a tattoo parlour is not an appropriate backer.

Football Association executives feel it is wrong for schoolchildren to advertise the business, despite most Premier League players sporting arms full of tattoos. The youngsters’ side, only formed this season, now faces closure because the cash-strapped club cannot afford the £500 costs of a new kit.

The team said it was only the sponsorship of Warstone Body Art that made playing possible in the first place.

The under-eights have also been told to ditch their sponsors – Arena nightclub in Stourbridge – for the same reason.

Warstone Body Art studio boss Simon Mabbott said:

Are they going to ban Premier League footballers who have tattoos? Because that would be pretty much all of them. Simon Mabbott, Warstone Body Art studio

The sponsorship money allowed Concorde to launch the under-eights and under-10s last September, with both playing in the Central Warwickshire Youth League.

Concorde chief Russell Jukes, who has put £2,000 of his own cash into the club, has accused the FA of double standards.

These days, every professional player has tattoos, and children watch them on television all the time. We just want to keep kids off the streets, out of trouble and keeping fit. Concorde chief Russell Jukes

Russell warned the club cannot afford to foot the bill for new strips, and he may be forced to disband the two teams.

In a guidance note to clubs, the FA states online: