Gary Neville demands U-turn from Premier League over kit decision

Gary Neville demands a U-turn from the Premier League over their kit decision which has widespread controversy this week.

Top-flight clubs were hoping to back Shelter’s #NoHomeKit initiative by all wearing their change kits on Boxing Day.

The organisation says that 90,000 households are stuck in unsuitable temporary accommodation, such as homeless hostels, and that they have given advice to 22,644 households in 2020 and 2021.

📢 You may have seen lots of discussion in the news, and on social media, about our new #NoHomeKit campaign yesterday.

We want to use the positive power of football this Christmas to raise awareness of homelessness.

Read our statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/TCZTczlV3f

— Shelter (@Shelter) November 10, 2021

However, while the English Football League has confirmed their support, the Premier League has said it goes against their rules.

Shelter tweeted on Tuesday it is launching the campaign, which urges clubs and fans to “ditch their home colours for their away or third kit, showing support for people who don’t have a safe home.”

Premier League bosses say it would break its rules regarding kits and have insisted clubs wear their home strips as first priority.

“The Premier League receives a large number of requests from charities every season, however we aren’t able to support all centrally,” a spokesperson for the league said.

“Clubs are entitled to support charitable causes, and we encourage clubs to do so, provided it is in compliance with Premier League rules.”

Osama Bhutta, director of campaigns at Shelter, said: “We believe ‘home’ means everything. We want to use the positive power of football this Christmas, and our shared connection to ‘home,’ to raise awareness of homelessness and what we can all do to fight it.

“Everyone involved in #NoHomeKit can do something special by bringing the entire football community together to fight the housing emergency.”

Meanwhile, Neville, who previously opened a hotel for the homeless in Manchester city centre, took aim at top-flight bosses and suggested clubs could still force a late change.

He posted on Twitter: “Imagine refusing a request to raise money and awareness for homelessness. A Johnson like u-turn on its way if the clubs push hard!”

BBC Sport claim that clubs are now planning to support the initiative in their own way following the Premier League decision.

Fans reacted as Gary Neville demands a U-turn from the Premier League over their kit decision…

Nobody else see the irony in the fact that they’ve used a player with a poppy on his shirt to illustrate it?

— Dan Jones #FBPxG (@DanJones3142) November 9, 2021

@matematamatic: Man owning a hotel is speaking for homelessness looool

@TomWush: So he can’t own a hotel and not like homelessness? Should he own a hotel and just house homeless people in there? Be a bit of a shit business that. He helped people during the pandemic with his hotel.

@Fire_and_Skill: They should do it anyway – take the hit on the punishment and at the same time raise more awareness that would have been generated in the first place.

@rjones197872: The people making these decisions have no idea what’s going on in the real world would know what poverty is

@DarrenBass10: Clubs will push for it. I can’t imagine Henderson or Rashford will stay quiet.

@tonysheeks: The volume of poor actions across the board is alarming atm. Have the ppl in charge got such contempt for the less fortunate that they don’t mind showing it off as a badge of honor.

@SamboFC11: Won’t change the rules for charity but were happy to change the rules for Ronaldo’s number 7 shirt.

@matttheowl: Bang the shelter logo on the front of every shirt, every advertising board, everything. Then auction off everything. Far more meaningful than just wearing a different shirt!

@simlew86: The idea is that the home team players sign the home shirts they would’ve worn for that fixture, and then auction them off. So that’s the raising money bit, with the wearing the away kit at home thing being a symbol. Not really that clear from the headline though.

@Craig_Johnston: Shocking from @premierleague please reconsider.

@JamesCDolan92: But they allow clubs to advertise gambling which can ruin life’s and cause people to become homeless then again that probably make the prem money and homeless people can’t do that

@TheDamphair: Just let them do it ffs. It’s for charity. Shit like this is why people are falling out of love with football. Everyday it becomes more evident that it’s no longer a sport for the working class.

@LongBall442: Pretty embarrassing decision by the governing bodies here

@Saudi_Mags2021: What difference does it make as long as there’s no colour clash. The Premier League authorities are weird. How much money are they claiming from rainbow laces etc then? Seems like they don’t do anything for free.

@Smc78Ste: Absolute farcical decision and rules.

@justfranklin: Little men with big power.

@cwalbone: Don’t see the issue. Surely as long as there is no clash teams should be able to wear whichever of their kits they want. Didn’t Man United change kits at half time once?

@InsanityBonkers: Really? How much work would it actually take for someone to say, ‘for one day let’s relax the rules?’

@jules1469: Ffs Premier league get your priorities right. They’re interested in nothing other ££££££ #NoHomeKit @premierleague

@RFCJoeJ: So what? It’s for charity… Shame on you @premierleague