Football South Australia will introduce a new referee shirt from the 2026 season onwards, representing a significant step forward in consistency and visibility for match officials.
The new design features a single, highly visible pink colour, ensuring referees are clearly identifiable and consistent across all levels of the game.
A known barrier to referee recruitment is the cost of purchasing multiple coloured shirts. With the introduction of the pink shirt, referees can invest in one shirt knowing it will be suitable across all competitions, enhancing referee cohesion and inclusivity.
Key benefits of the new referee shirt include:
- A single, consistent referee colour across all leagues and competitions
- Reduced colour clashes due to the highly visible fluorescent pink design
- Lower costs for referees by removing the need to purchase multiple shirts
- A unified and professional referee identity across the state
The new referee shirt will launch at the NPL Season Opener between Croydon FC and Para Hills Knights on 27 February. It will be available for referees to purchase late February, ahead of the season launch. Match officials will be communicated with directly regarding ordering and further details.
This change reflects Football South Australia’s commitment to modern officiating standards and operational efficiency, delivering a clear, professional and unified referee identity that supports the continued growth of the game at all levels.
