Bright orange Netherlands kit sparks TV complaints during World Cup

During the Netherlands‑Japan World Cup match, viewers reported that the Dutch national team’s fluorescent orange kit caused visual discomfort on television. VodafoneZiggo and KPN confirmed the issue. Social media users described the colour as painful to the eyes and said it made the back number unreadable, with some even mistaking the kit for red. One commenter suggested the KNVB test the colour on camera before finalising the design. A VodafoneZiggo spokesperson explained that this year’s kit is “almost fluorescent orange” compared with the previous “brown‑orange” version, and that such non‑natural hues challenge TV transmission. The spokesperson added that viewers can reduce the problem by adjusting colour saturation and dynamic contrast on their devices. A KPN spokesperson linked the visual issue to signal quality, noting that providers may lower signal quality during large events like the World Cup, which also reduces colour fidelity. Wout Funnekotter, editor‑in‑chief of Tweakers, agreed that signal adjustments can affect colour, and VodafoneZiggo said the number of complaints is modest relative to the audience size, joking that a brighter orange would matter more for the game than the picture.