Huddersfield face humiliation over horrific new home shirt - how Twitter reacted

Huddersfield Town are facing the wrath of the Football Association (FA) as well as that of their own fans after unveiling their “horrendous” new kit - with the sponsor’s name running diagonally across the front of the shirt, like a sash worn by a beauty queen.

There was widespread shock and disbelief among the club’s followers when it was launched on Wednesday, although many simply assumed it was a prank pulled by new backers Paddy Power, whose logo runs from shoulder to hip.

However, when the Terriers took to the field in a pre-season friendly against Rochdale last night supporters were aghast to see the shirt was, in fact, genuine and began singing: “Stand up if you hate the kit.”

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They are not the only ones left reeling by the fashion faux pas, and the FA are poised to intervene over the kit which appears to contravene the rules on sponsors’ logos.

“Huddersfield players looked like they were in a beauty pageant on Wednesday and many were laughing when they ran on to the pitch,” reports the Daily Mail.

Angry fans were less amused and see the kit as an embarrassment for the club, already reeling from relegation from the Premier League last season.

“Indeed, the suspicion among many industry insiders is that this was a major PR stunt designed to generate attention around the sponsorship deal, just as the bookmaker has done in the past,” adds the Mail.

And with a ban on gambling ads during televised games coming into play next month, bookmakers are looking for more elaborate ways to generate publicity.

Indeed, 60% of Premier League and Championship sides will be sponsored by a gambling firm next season.

“After the travails of the past year… restoring a sense of pride is paramount at a club where supporters remain stoically loyal,” says The Yorkshire Post.

“Whether yesterday’s kit stunt – and surely it is a stunt, with closer inspection of goalkeeper [Ryan] Schofield’s green top suggesting the white sash that made him resemble a Thunderbird was being held on by sticky tape – is the best way of achieving that goal is debatable.”

Now the FA is set to step in as the kit appears to break sponsorship rules that state logos must not exceed 250 square centimetres.

It released a statement that said: “The FA has clear kit and advertising regulations for all club matchday kits. If we believe that any club has breached these rules we will look into the matter and, if required, take the appropriate action.

“We have contacted Huddersfield Town about their 2019/20 kit to seek their observations.”

Paddy Power, which usually revels in publicity, has been silent since the row erupted, says the BBC.

In its launch statement the bookie optimistically states: “We feel the diagonal design will be the most distinctive sponsor logo in the Football League - appropriate for the most distinctive sponsor there is. We’re sure Huddersfield fans will be delighted with this season’s kit.”

How Twitter reacted to Huddersfield’s new kit