Premier League Blocks Away Kit Charity Initiative

The Premier League has blocked its clubs wearing their away kits at home on Boxing Day to raise awareness around homelessness.

Homeless charity Shelter are understood to have sent a detailed presentation to the nine Premier League clubs playing at home on Boxing Day about the #NoHomeKit initiative, and how they could help highlight the issues of homelessness.

Their idea consisted of the unused home shirts signed by the players and then auctioned off.

Osama Bhutta, director of campaigns at Shelter, said the charity wants to raise awareness of homelessness through the campaign.

“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,”  Bhutta said.

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

Although the clubs were very supportive of the idea, the Premier League blocked the idea, reiterating that the initiative would break its rules around kits.

A Premier League spokesperson said: “The Premier League receives a large number of requests from charities every season however we aren’t able to support all centrally.

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

However, the EFL has confirmed that it will accept clubs wearing away kits on the same day if they make a formal request.

So far, Cardiff and Portsmouth have had their requests approved, whilst another 15 EFL clubs are committed to supporting the campaign.

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