A Premier League star, 29, has avoided a prison sentence this week, despite having run a red light before hospitalising a woman after crashing into a cyclist.

Local police had questioned the player, who would have also featured at this summer’s World Cup had it not been for injury, for a while back at the start of July, but came to a surprising decision not to prosecute him.

A woman was rushed to hospital after the incident after being knocked off her bike. The victim, 48, was treated for hand injuries and signed off work for two weeks.

Since the incident, the player’s representatives have also issued a statement on his behalf, expressing their sincere apology for what had taken place.

Premier League Star Escapes Prison Despite Road Accident

On July 8th, in Tokyo, Brighton & Hove Albion and Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma ignored a red light at a junction, before crashing into a female accident.

According to The Sun, local public prosecutors studied the case, and considered charging Mitoma with causing injury through dangerous driving. But they announced on Friday morning that the 31-cap international will escape prosecution because both parties ignored traffic signals.

They said they had reached their verdict “considering that both parties were running a red light, and the content of other related evidence.”

Japanese media quoted updated traffic rules and described the junction’s complex layout as reasons for the prosecutors’ decision.

His Representatives Have Issued A Statement

Following the incident, his representatives released a statement which read: “We sincerely apologise for the great inconvenience and concern caused to the injured party, and all involved due to the accident.

Mitoma has been recovering from a hamstring injury suffered at the end of last season, which caused him to miss Japan’s World Cup campaign.

The Seagulls signed him from home-country club Kawasaki Frontale in 2021, with him yet another hidden gem the club’s recruitment team unearthed. The winger has since gone on to make 135 appearances for the south coast side, scoring 27 goals.

Stephen ‘Kiki’ Ramos became only the fourth black Argentine player ever after making his debut for the Under-17s during a 2-1 win vs Ecuador this week.

The 17-year-old was born in Haiti but was adopted by an Argentinian family following an earthquake in his homeland in 2010, which caused over 300,000 deaths.

Now playing as a winger for Argentine club Velez-Sarsfield, Ramos follows only three previous players of the same ethnicity to represent the country. Hector Baley was the last black member of La Albiceleste’s squad, last playing for them in 1982. Alejandro de los Santos and Jose Ramos Delgado are the only other black players in the national team’s history.

Kiki Ramos Responds to Question Over Racism in Argentina

Argentina have been involved in several controversies recently, especially at the 2026 World Cup. A Falkland Islands-related banner against England sparked outrage, while several players got into heated confrontations after the final vs Spain.

Another involved IShowSpeed, who was subjected to racial abuse during a live stream at a World Cup match. It sparked outrage online, with some accusations that racism and discrimination were common in Argentina.

Now, Ramos has been questioned on the subject. The teenager responded by claiming he’d never seen anything of that nature while living in South America. He said (via Sportskeeda): “Did I feel any racism or discrimination in Argentina? Ever since I came to Argentina, I’ve never felt discriminated against.”

He continued: “Other than the occasional fights between youth players during matches, everything has always been fine off the pitch. I never felt discriminated against, and I never felt different from anyone else. That’s why I feel like people who say Argentina is racist are just saying it for the sake of it.

Born in 2009, Ramos is the first-ever player born in Haiti to represent Argentina. If he makes his way into the first-team in future, he would be the first black player to don the famous blue and white stripes in more than four decades.

The new Premier League season is edging closer, and while there’s still time to wait before the action gets underway on August 21, fans have already had plenty to talk about.

Transfers have dominated the headlines, pre-season is in full swing, and, as always, the release of every club’s new home shirt has sparked plenty of revelries.

Some designs have gone down a treat, others have split opinions, but one thing is certain: everyone has something to say about it. With all 20 English top-flight clubs now having unveiled their home kits for the 2026/27 season, there’s only one thing left to do. As Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal prepare to defend their Premier League title, we’ve ranked every 2026/27 home shirt from worst to best.

Every Premier League 2026/27 Home Kit Ranked

20. Newcastle

There’s too much going on with Newcastle’s kit, and with far too many lines involved, it might make opponents feel like they’re in a life-sized game of geometry dash rather than top-flight football. Objectively very ugly.

19. Bournemouth

Via Bournemouth

Red and black stripes are usually easy to get right. This year, however, Bournemouth have added random gold panelling that, put simply, doesn’t come with any rhyme or reason, while the big pink ‘Vitality’ sponsorship is too ‘in your face’ to ignore.

18. Crystal Palace

Via Crystal Palace

Crystal Palace’s new home shirt has all the hallmarks of a great kit. White, red, and blue is an iconic colourway, the sponsorship fits in seamlessly, and the retro-style badge is certainly a nice touch, but a detailing similar to Newcastle’s – along with the fact it looks like an away shirt, given the Eagles have decided to go completely against their usual primary colour – lets it down massively.

17. Hull City

Hull City

You can’t fault Hull City for wanting to give a nod to their heritage in their return to the Premier League, with no sponsors and retro branding a classic combo. What you can fault is that their new shirt is a little bland, and the white collar and sleeves are way too bold.

16. Sunderland

As is the case with Hull City’s, the idea of retro is nice with Sunderland’s home shirt. But the black badge is an eye sore, and once you realise the stripes on the sleeve aren’t even symmetric, you’ll find it hard to stop looking for the wrong reasons.

15. Chelsea

If Chelsea’s neon-yellow badge wasn’t enough for people to be able to recognise the shirt, then they’ve added a faint extra badge in the detailing, right on the stomach. The colour is nice, and the fact it’s a basic design helps stop it from falling lower down the order.

14. Everton

Via Everton

Simple can be effective, sure. Everton’s latest home kit would probably rank higher if it didn’t feature a random splash of yellow, which is present on both the sleeve and collar, but not all the way around. Otherwise, it’s a nice shirt.

13. Leeds United

Via Leeds United

Credit where it’s due, a lot of people will end up loving Leeds United’s number – the colourway is particularly good. There’s just something about it that makes it look a bit like a pyjama top, albeit a smart one.

12. Coventry City

It’s been so long since Coventry City were in the big time (25 years) that they’ve returned as Huddersfield Town. That’s the only let-down in an otherwise striking outfit, with the detailing in each sky blue and white stripe a standout feature – it just doesn’t feel very ‘Cov’.

11. Man Utd

Via Manchester United

There’s nothing flashy about the Red Devils new kit, and we’re unsure whether that helps or hurts it. Eleventh feels right for a shirt that does the job but probably won’t be remembered by next season, unless Michael Carrick’s side really do exceed expectations (only time will tell!).

10. Fulham

Via Fulham

Fulham’s kit is not that different to United’s, truth be told. But without a collar, a slight extra bit of panelling, and a cleaner colour, the Cottagers – who proclaim to be London’s oldest football club – edge it into the top 10.

9. Aston Villa

What can be said about the previous two kits can also be said about Aston Villa’s new look. Again, it’s the colour that takes them above Fulham and United, but there’s not an awful lot between them.

8. Manchester City

Puma got slammed for one of the kits they designed for Man City, which went down as one of the lowest-rated Premier League shirts ever. They’ve done well this time around, though, with the sky blue and ice white gradient a refreshing take on the modern look – a timely redemption ahead of a new era without Pep Guardiola.

7. Tottenham

Spurs’ home top is a plain white one (obviously) with navy accents and is said to have nostalgic, subtle diagonal striping that is said to be inspired by Tottenham’s mid-1980s Hummels kits. It’s clean and smart, not much else can be noted – again, does the job, just better than a lot of others that achieve the same.

6. Liverpool

REUTERS/Peter Powell

Liverpool’s second Adidas kit since their record-breaking reunion last summer draws heavy influence from the iconic design the Reds wore from 1989 to 1991 with its famous geometric pattern a nod to the ‘Candy’ shirts of old. It’s another great creation, but definitely doesn’t hold a candle to last season’s effort.

5. Arsenal

Via Arsenal

Arsenal and marketing are a match made in heaven, and they’ve brought out another lovely home shirt. Albeit, it’s a little basic, but still very good – perhaps the fact it ranks fifth is a little bit of a reflection on the fact not many clubs have produced out-and-out stunners. The Gunners’ away and third strips are a sight to behold, if you get a chance to take a look.

4. Brentford

Brentford definitely get bonus points because they keep the same home shirt for two seasons, allowing fans to save their money as they aren’t forced to fork out on a new strip every summer. While they’ve kept their basic design though, the yellow trims are a really sleek addition – the more you look, the better it gets.

3. Brighton & Hove Albion

Via Brighton & Hove Albion

The new Brighton home shirt is all royal blue with a printed crisp white pinstripe and contrasting white neckline, which is a nod to their appearance in the 1983 FA Cup final. Completely moving away from the usually chunky stripes is a really nice transition.

2. Nottingham Forest

Via Nottingham Forest

The patterning on Forest’s latest drop is what makes it so nice. While the actual material looks almost silky, which brings it down slightly, there can’t be a bad word said about the design. Those filling up the City Ground will be hoping it coincides with a much better campaign than last time out, which saw relegation become a genuine threat at one point.

1. Ipswich Town

Ipswich Town love to take the ‘royal’ in ‘royal blue’ and really accentuate it. Just like the last time they were in the promised land, the Tractor Boys will be fighting against the dropzone in style.