Section 6(d) of the Football Association’s Kit and Advertising Regulations may not be the most familiar of rules to fans, but it is one which has the power to benefit the lives of millions around the world.
The rule allows clubs to temporarily replace their main shirt sponsor with the logo of a charitable organisation for up to three charities a season. Manchester United have never had a charitable organisation appear on the front of our shirts for a league fixture but, this weekend, that’s all about to change.
Our men's and women's teams will wear a special-edition shirt during the West Ham United and Arsenal macthes this weekend with the charitable organisation (RED) appearing on it because our front-of-shirt partner, Snapdragon, have donated their logo space to promote the charity’s life-saving work in support of the Global Fund.
Established in 2002, the Global Fund is focused on ending the world’s deadliest pandemics: HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria. (RED)’s Global Fund grants support life-saving programmes that empower health workers and provide testing, treatment, and care in places where injustice has enabled pandemics to thrive.
Former Red Gary Neville is supportive of the logo switch, saying: “By donating the front-of-shirt logo for one men's and women's match, Snapdragon is showing the world that football can drive real change. Together, we can unite millions of fans to fight global health injustice, harnessing the power of football to make a difference and create a brighter future.”
Chief executive officer at Manchester United, Omar Berrada, agreed, stating: “Through the power and innovation of our relationship with Qualcomm Technologies, we are proud to use the front of the Manchester United shirt to tell the story of the vital work undertaken by (RED) to fight against health injustice.
“Qualcomm Technologies shares our ambition to use football as a force for good and this activation underlines that aspiration, especially at a time when the world faces enormous challenges in helping the most vulnerable in society.”
To mark the initiative, Manchester United, Snapdragon & (RED) have collaborated with adidas to create a limited-edition merchandise collection with all net proceeds going to the Global Fund.
Fans will be able to bid for the shirts worn during the matches, with the money raised also supporting the cause.
So thanks to a little-known section within the FA’s guidelines, Reds can support the fight against health injustice and those who want to be the first to hear when the limited-edition (RED) collection and match-worn shirts are available can sign up here.