Serie A: Orange ball dropped, Simonelli brings back yellow or white | OneFootball

The orange winter ball of Serie A is set to be shelved. After weeks of criticism and reports, the official reversal from the League has arrived: a decision openly described as "unfortunate," which will be corrected in the coming months.

Serie A, farewell to the orange ball: Simonelli admits the mistake and announces a return to yellow or white

The announcement was made by the president of the Serie A League, Ezio Simonelli, speaking on Radio Anch’io Sport on Rai Radio 1.

Simonelli: “Protests are justified, some people can't see it”

The head of the League acknowledged without hesitation the issues related to the use of the orange ball, introduced for winter games but proving to be visually ineffective:

“We have received many justified protests about this. There are people who cannot see it, even due to color blindness,” Simonelli explained, emphasizing that the difficulties affect not only fans in the stadium but also those watching the matches on television.

An important admission, certifying how the color choice negatively impacted the football viewing experience.

Technical and logistical problem: hundreds of balls needed weekly

The president of the Serie A League then clarified why the change will not be immediate. Behind the official ball is a complex organizational machine:

“Each match requires 25 balls: that's about 500 balls a week, plus those provided to teams for training.”

Numbers that explain the need for technical time for a complete replacement, despite the decision already being made.

New production underway: “More visible color, but time is needed”

The League has already moved with the official supplier to rectify the mistake:

“We have asked our supplier to expedite the supply of new balls. They have put all new models into production with a color that can be seen,” Simonelli added.

The problem, however, is related to industrial timelines: large-scale distribution requires weeks, if not months.

Definitive decision: returning to traditional colors

The conclusion is clear and reassuring for fans, players, and professionals:

“It will take some time to replace this orange, which was an unfortunate choice. We will return to yellow or white.”

A return to tradition, therefore, aiming to ensure maximum visibility, inclusivity, and quality of the television product, especially in the winter months characterized by more challenging weather and lighting conditions.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.