CONMEBOL Permits Kit That Would Violate FIFA Equipment Regulations
- Kit Violation: Universidad Central de Venezuela wore a kit in Copa Libertadores that violates FIFA's 2025 equipment regulations regarding sleeve colors.
- CONMEBOL's Role: It's unclear why CONMEBOL permitted the kit, possibly due to more permissive guidelines or oversight, given the scarcity of publicly available documentation.
- FIFA's Strictness: FIFA regulations are stricter, as demonstrated by Ecuador modifying kits to comply with the rules in the CONMEBOL Copa America and France modifying its 2016 away kit.
In an interesting observation from the recent Copa Libertadores matches, Universidad Central de Venezuela has been competing in a kit design that would not be permitted under FIFA's equipment regulations.
While facing Brazilian giants Corinthians, the Venezuelan club wore their striking blue home kit featuring distinctively different colored sleeves - a design element specifically prohibited by FIFA's 2025 Equipment Regulations.
According to FIFA's regulations (Article 13.2.1), "The Sleeves must be the same color (s) as each other, which must not undermine the predominant visual impression of the single Dominant Colour on the Front Area and the Back Area of the Shirt." Universidad Central de Venezuela's kit clearly contravenes this rule with its blue body and sleeves incorporating yellow and red elements, creating a non-uniform appearance.
It is clear that this design would be forbidden in FIFA-organized competitions like the World Cup or Club World Cup. But why does CONMEBOL did not allow it?
Publicly available documentation of CONMEBOL's specific equipment regulations for the Copa Libertadores is notably scarce, making it difficult to determine whether this represents a deliberate exception or is part of generally more permissive guidelines for club kits in South American competitions.
However, Ecuador (the national team) had to change its kits to apply with FIFA rules in the CONMEBOL Copa America - it could be that CONMEBOL just did not notice the rule violation.
Manwhile, the away and third kits are totally fine.
It is not the first time that a team violates the "two sleeves, one color". France infamously had to modify its 2016 away kit to comply with kit regulations.
Are you surprised that CONMEBOL will allow the design? Let us know in the comments below.
