THE NEW UEFA REFEREE KITS. COLOURS OF UNITY WITH SUSTAINABILITY AT THEIR HEART

The final whistle blown by Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers at the end of the UEFA Euro 2020 final at Wembley in July still echoes in the ears of many triumphant Italian fans. It was a magical night – and one that Macron, the Hero company, is proud to have been a part of in its capacity as technical supplier to the UEFA referees. It’s hard to believe it’s been a month since Italy lifted the trophy into the London night, but attention must now turn to the imminent start of the new season's European competitions. And the UEFA match officials are ready to take to the field in their new match kits and technical clothing from Macron, a leading international teamwear brand and the “Official UEFA Referee Match Kit Supplier”.

The kits will have their first run-out at Belfast’s Windsor Park, during the UEFA Super Cup final between Chelsea and Villarreal. At the heart of the kit concept is the colour green. Yet that doesn’t mean the kits themselves will be green – instead, the green link refers to the ethos of sustainability and environmental awareness that underpins the kits. The new UEFA referee kits have been made from Eco-Softlock, a form of polyester that is made entirely from recycled plastic and holds Global Recycled Standard certification. The great advantage of recycled polyester is that it uses less energy during the production process.

Colour is used throughout the kits to convey a natural sense of unity between the countries that take part in UEFA's club and international competitions. Yet the choice of colours is also designed to celebrate the spirit of the game, respect for the rules and our shared passion for football.

The new UEFA referee kits will be available in four different colours: black, yellow, neon blue and red (with this final option replacing the neon pink version from the previous collection). The distinctive graphic design used for the new collection features tone-on-tone vertical stripes made up of fine lines in relief, alternating with the UEFA logo.

The crewneck shirts feature a self-fastening close in nylon, with convenient pockets on the front with velcro close. The distinctive Macron Hero is positioned on the right breast and on the shoulders, while the left sleeve is home to the UEFA Foundation for Children logo.

These slim jerseys ensure optimum breathability through the use of Eco-Softlock material and the incorporation of inserts in Eco-Micromesh.

Macron's collection for the UEFA referees is made from highly resistant, innovative materials which guarantee maximum comfort and practicality, allowing the officials to concentrate on doing their hugely important job on the pitch. And this season, the garments also convey a message around sustainability, environmental awareness and the protection of the ecosystem. Macron is a huge sustainability champion and adopts green principles in all its operations, as well as incorporating state-of-the-art technology into its production processes to ensure that the environment is looked after.

As always, the new referees collection is fully customised and comes with an acconpanying range of training pieces, including a tracksuit jacket, hoodie, waterproof jacket and cotton polo. Particular attention has been paid to underwear and undershirts, which feature practical pockets on the arm and shoulder designed to store the technological devices which are now commonplace for elite referees.

“By working closely with the UEFA refereeing department over recent years, we’ve been able to develop a new collection that raises the bar even further,” said Macron CEO Gianluca Pavanello. “Our UEFA referees collections always combine practicality, comfort and a design where even the tiniest details have been taken into account. Using the valuable feedback from previous season, we've been able to develop the new kits that we’re now proud to present the officials with as they embark on a new season, full of challenging yet thrilling European competitions.”

Also UEFA Chief Refereeing Officer, Roberto Rosetti, commented: “The stylishly designed UEFA refereeing match kits are not only produced in a sustainable way, they are personalised to fit UEFA referees. Macron and UEFA Refereeing Services have gathered the feedback from referees themselves to develop and improve the products they wear on the field of play. We are delighted to continue the partnership with Macron into the 21-22 UEFA Competitions season with these renewed and improved kits”