REVEALED: Premier League Scrooges REFUSE clubs permission to wear their away kits at home on Boxing Day to raise funds and awareness for homeless charity Shelter
- Premier League clubs have been approached by Shelter over a collaboration
- The homeless charity wanted to raise awareness using Boxing Day fixtures
- However, a plan to have home teams wear away kits has been blocked by chiefs
Premier League has refused clubs permission to wear their away kits at home matches on Boxing Day in a bid to raise funds and awareness for a homeless charity.
Sportsmail understands that Shelter – who campaign to end homelessness and bad housing – have approached many of the nine top flight clubs hosting games on December 26 to let them know of their plans to make the festive fixtures ‘the annual event where football fights homelessness’.
A number of the group, supportive of the idea, contacted the league to request the green light for the kit swap, but sources have disclosed that they were left stunned when they were told that the permission would not be forthcoming. It is understood that at least one has now gone back to query what appears to be an incredibly mean-spirited move.
The Premier League have blocked a plan to have home clubs wearing away kits on Boxing Day
Shelter sent a wide-ranging presentation to each of the host clubs in an attempt to drum up support to tackle what is a rapidly-growing problem. They informed them that 280,000 people were registered homeless in England pre-pandemic, with more than 130,000 households made homeless since the outbreak began.
Shelter believes that a switch from synonymous home shirts to away jerseys would act as a simple act of solidarity as the nation grapples with a housing emergency and they will also call on fans to ditch their home gear for change colours.
In an extensive campaign, named Dark Horses, players would be asked to sign the home jerseys they have not worn and auction them off, in what the charity have described as their version of Save the Children’s Christmas Jumper Day.
Newcastle would also have been asked to wear their away kit the day after Boxing Day
Each club would also be asked to highlight the specific homeless issues in their own areas and the work Shelter have been carrying out. Those playing at home are Liverpool, Wolves, Burnley, Manchester City, Norwich, Tottenham, West Ham, Aston Villa and Brighton, while Newcastle entertain Manchester United on December 27.
Of that group some – including Brighton and Wolves asked the Premier League for permission – but saw their request declined. It is understood Spurs are now querying whether the top flight is within its rights to block the move.
Shelter also want those at home in the EFL to do likewise. It is understood that they have not raised any objections. Away teams would wear either their home kits or non-clashing colours such as a third strip. The Premier League has been approached for comment.
Manchester City would be among clubs asked to highlight homeless issues in their own area