Footballers have been shown the red card because their new kit clashes with that worn by the referee.

When Becks FC players turned up to play their first match of the new season on Sunday they were told they would have to change.

The referee told them they could not play in their new all-black strip because it was too similar to his own kit.

The Worthing side offered the official a change of shirt but he said he could not accept it because it was not in the rules.

Faced with the prospect of not being allowed to play, the team were forced to don their old black and white shirts from last season.

The club, whose new sponsors forked out £650 for the strip, are now asking printers to add a white stripe to the shirts.

Coach David Page said: "We paid a lot of money for the shirts and I don't know how we would pay for new ones.

"Hopefully the printers will be able to come up with something."

The side, who play in the intermediate division of the Sussex Sunday Football League, change their strip every two or three years.

Mr Page said: "We ordered the strip over the internet and didn't know the exact colour until it arrived. That is when we realised it was jet black."

Centre forward Neil Soffe said: "When I spoke to the manager last week he said the strip was really nice. He had no idea we wouldn't be allowed to wear it.

"It was only when we turned up on Sunday that the referee said no.

"We told him we had a change of kit for him but he said it wasn't in the rules. It seems Sunday league teams aren't allowed to wear black strips even though premier league teams are.

"I suppose they don't want to let one team start wearing black because it might start a precedent."

Nigel Williams, of the Sussex Football Association, said the referee was right to tell the players to change.

He said the Football Association (FA) stated that teams were not allowed to wear black kits.

Roy Terrington, chairman of the Sussex Sunday Football League, said: "These are not our rules but those of the FA in London.

"The rules clearly state that no player, including goalkeepers, are permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.

"I can sympathise with the club. We had a similar situation last season with a team and they were told exactly the same thing.

"I don't understand why suppliers keep having black shirts. They must know the rules as well."

The players hope they will be allowed to carry on wearing the strip, once it is modified, and that it will bring them plenty of luck during the coming season.