Munich, Germany – Bayern Munich's traditional red home jersey has been banned by UEFA for the remainder of the 2024-25 Champions League, according to reports. The German giants were forced to wear their black away or beige third kit in all four group stage home matches due to a UEFA ruling that the jersey's black lettering on the red background did not provide sufficient contrast for viewers.
UEFA regulations state that jersey lettering must be clearly visible to ensure readability for fans and broadcasters. The governing body deemed Bayern's home shirt did not meet this standard, deeming the black lettering on the red backdrop insufficiently legible.
Bayern has announced plans to rectify the issue by changing the lettering on their home jerseys from black to white. However, this change has yet to be implemented, meaning they will wear their away kit for their crucial playoff clash against Celtic in Glasgow.
The first leg of the playoff tie takes place at Celtic Park on February 13th, with the return leg scheduled for February 19th at Bayern's Allianz Arena. It remains to be seen whether Bayern will be permitted to wear their home jerseys for the return leg.
Despite the jersey controversy, Bayern Munich are heavily favored to overcome Celtic and progress to the round of 16. Should they advance, they could face tough opposition such as Bayer Leverkusen or Spanish powerhouse Atletico Madrid.
The tie also carries additional significance as it pits South Korean defender Kim Min-jae against his compatriot Yang Hyun-jun, who has been playing for Celtic since 2023. This marks the first time the two players will face each other on the pitch.
However, Kim Min-jae's participation in the match is uncertain due to a recurrence of an Achilles tendon injury that has kept him out of training. Local media reports suggest he is likely to be rested for the Celtic game to avoid aggravating the injury.
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