Vincent Tan has been a contentious figure since taking over Cardiff City in May 2010.

The Malaysian billionaire has been in control of the Bluebirds for more than 16 years and has experienced many ups and downs during that period.

The Welsh club has twice been promoted to the Premier League but has struggled to stay there, dropping to League One in 2025 before returning to the top division under popular manager Brian Barry-Murphy.

But possibly his most controversial move since becoming owner had little to do with the competitiveness of the first team squad, as he chose to alter the home kit from blue to red in 2012.

Cardiff City fans were upset with the new shirt colours.

Cardiff’s traditional home colour is blue, but Tan decided to alter it to red just a few years into his ownership.

Many supporters were outraged by this choice at the time.

Red was believed to be a more vibrant colour for the Asian market, as well as having more national meaning in Wales, while Tan regarded it as a lucky colour.

The Welsh national team wears red, and this change was more in line with that, but fans were nonetheless displeased with the choice.

Vincent Tan’s Red Shirt U-turn

However, Cardiff’s red home shorts did not endure long, as the club returned to their usual blue in January 2015 after only a couple of years.

Fans were delighted with the decision, which helped to heal their connection with the owner – though many have yet to entirely forgive him.

The Bluebirds haven’t looked back in the last decade, and they even got to play in their historic colours in the Premier League under Neil Warnock in 2018/19 after playing top level football in red in 2013/14.

Tan claimed that a conversation with his mother was essential in making the decision to return to their original colour.

“My mother, Madam Low Siew Beng, a devout Buddhist, spoke to me on the importance of togetherness, unity, and happiness,” the 74-year-old told the Daily Mail in 2015.

“Cardiff City is vital to me, and I hope to see it unified and happy.

“I contacted my chairman, Mehmet Dalman, and CEO, Ken Choo, for guidance and to consult with a representative sample of the fan base.

“I am informed that this was a very productive and frank exchange of views, but all with the same objectives to strengthen our club.”

Cardiff City’s joyful comeback in blue

Cardiff had returned to the Championship at the time the club announced their change of team colours.

On 10 January 2015, the Welsh team celebrated the reintroduction of blue kits with a 1-0 win over Fulham, with Sean Morrison scoring the only goal.

It was a triumph that put a stop to the club’s five-game losing streak and restored hope.

However, Cardiff finished 11th in the table that season, failing to secure an instant return to the top flight after being relegated in 2014.

Cardiff City’s Return to Blue Reaction

Cardiff’s intention to return to their blue kit sparked a strong reaction, including involvement from the then-Labour MP for Cardiff South and Penart, Stephen Doughty.

He called it a tremendous development and a victory for the fans.”This is fantastic – the news we have all been waiting and hoping for,” remarked Doughty, via BBC.Since the change of colours, I have voiced my views to Tan Sri Vincent Tan and his team, both publicly and personally, and impressed them with the strength of feeling among the fanbase, as well as the city as a whole and the larger footballing community.”

Sian Branson of the Bluebirds Unite fans organisation also welcomed the group, with the issue over the club’s colours generating extensive media coverage.

While Tan remains a polarising figure among supporters due to other decisions he has made about the team’s management, the decision to return the colours is widely supported.