NEWCASTLE, UK: Football fans with hearing disabilities will for the first time ever experience the atmosphere of a live match during Newcastle United’s Premier League home game against Tottenham thanks to the newly-introduced technology of haptic shirts.
NUFC’s front-of-shirt sponsor, Sela, will introduce the world-first haptic shirts that allow deaf fans and fans with hearing loss to experience live atmospheres during a football game at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Haptic shirts use a technology that transforms the noise of the stadium into real-time touch sensation. Fans and the match day mascots, who are deaf or have hearing loss, will be wearing the shirts in the stands.
A leading live events and experiences company, Sela has been the driving force behind the initiative as a demonstration of their commitment to using innovation to provide moments to all fans.
The company has committed to providing this technology at all future Newcastle home games and hopes its actions will inspire football clubs across the Premier League, Europe and beyond to build on efforts to improve accessibility.
Moreover, the match will also see Sela donate its front-of-shirt sponsorship to RNID, the national charity supporting the 12 million people in the UK who are deaf, have hearing loss or tinnitus.
Sela’s Senior Vice President Ibrahim Mohtaseb said: “St. James’ Park is renowned for its noise and passion. Through this initiative we hope to enable deaf fans and fans with hearing loss to feel a part of this.”
He welcomed the whole football family to join them by adopting the technology.
Peter Silverstone, United’s chief commercial officer, said: “When Sela shared the idea and technology behind the haptic shirts, we supported the concept immediately, knowing it would make such an impact to our supporters who are deaf or have hearing loss.”
He added: “‘Un-silence the Crowd’ fills everybody associated with this initiative with deep pride, from all NUFC, Newcastle United Foundation, Sela and RNID, along with all stakeholders who have helped make this possible.
“We believe that ‘Un-silence the Crowd’ will be truly game-changing for football and expect this campaign will revolutionize the football experience for any fan who is deaf or has hearing loss, regardless of which team they support,” concluded Silverstone.
It is set to be a historic occasion, marking the first time a hearing-loss charity has been promoted on a Premier League front-of-shirt, as well as the launch of the cutting-edge shirts themselves.
Meanwhile, Teri Devine, RNID’s director for inclusion, said: “It’s fantastic to see Sela and Newcastle United leading the way in championing this technology which has the potential to have a real and lasting impact on how people who are deaf and have hearing loss experience live sports.”
Devine expressed excitement to be part of the collaboration and said he hoped this exposure opens up conversations among football fans about hearing loss and encourages other football clubs to raise their game and make sure deaf fans are fully included.
Haptic shirts from Sela to allow Newcastle fans with hearing loss to experience live atmosphere in EPL
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Haptic shirts from Sela to allow Newcastle fans with hearing loss to experience live atmosphere in EPL
- NUFC’s front-of-shirt sponsor, Sela, introduces world-first haptic shirts that allow fans with hearing disability to experience live atmosphere during NUFC-Tottenham clash on Saturday
- Haptic shirts use a technology that transform the noise of the stadium into real-time touch sensation
Chelsea paid for costly errors in Arsenal defeat, says Rosenior
LONDON: Liam Rosenior admitted Chelsea paid the price for costly mistakes after Arsenal took advantage of his side’s blunders to win 3-2 in the League Cup semifinal first leg on Wednesday.
Rosenior’s team face a tough task to set up a final against either Manchester City or Newcastle following their error-strewn display in their new manager’s first home match.
Chelsea were guilty of sloppy marking for Ben White’s early headed opener before goalkeeper Robert Sanchez gifted striker Viktor Gyokeres Arsenal’s second goal after half-time.
Alejandro Garnacho got one back for Chelsea but Martin Zubimendi then netted for Arsenal after more lacklustre defending from Rosenior’s men.
Substitute Garnacho’s second goal gave Chelsea a glimmer of hope heading into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium in February.
“Disappointed to concede from a corner. Disappointed with the third goal as well because we were right back in the game and we were on top at that moment,” Rosenior said.
“We switched off from a restart from a central free-kick but I can’t fault the players.
“We need to make sure we perform well individually and we don’t concede as many goals.”
Rosenior was without a host of key players, including Cole Palmer, Reece James and Liam Delap, due to injuries and illness.
‘It’s another step’
In his second game since replacing Enzo Maresca as Blues boss, the 41-year-old took heart from the way Chelsea kept fighting to find a way back into the tie.
“We’ve had illness in the squad, we’ve picked up a few knocks this week but what the squad has shown is that they are willing to run and fight for each other,” he said.
Rosenior, who oversaw a 5-1 FA Cup third-round win at Charlton in his debut last weekend, refused to condemn Sanchez for the latest in a long line of shaky performances.
“Rob’s a very good goalkeeper. He made an outstanding save at 3-1 to keep us in the tie, so for me load of things to improve but the overall attitude of the team I liked,” Rosenior said.
“Hopefully, we get a few bodies back for Brentford on Saturday.”
Arsenal are now unbeaten in 10 games in all competitions as they moved a step closer to their first silverware since the 2020 FA Cup.
The Gunners had lost their previous four semifinals across a variety of competitions, including the League Cup last year.
Mikel Arteta was impressed with Arsenal’s ability to subdue Chelsea for long periods, but he was left to rue their failure to kill off their London rivals.
“I have to praise the players for the performance against a really good opponents. It’s a really tough place to come. That’s why I really value what the team has done again,” Arteta said.
“We had two massive chances to score the fourth one and the result would have been very different. At that moment they created a chance and scored a goal. So it is a very different feeling. It’s game on.”
As well as leading the Premier League, Arsenal are also still chasing Champions League and FA Cup glory.
But after so many last-four failures in the recent past, Arteta won’t take anything for granted.
“It’s another step. It’s just half-time. We know the big fight we are going to have at the Emirates in a few weeks because they are a top side,” he said.
“What we’re doing every three days is impressive.”
