Red will be the prominent colour even for Blues this weekend as the Premier League teams join force with Nike to raise the profile of the ‘Lace up. Save Lives’ partnership.

(NIKE)^RED is introducing a special edition ball which will be used in top flight matches on Saturday and Sunday including City’s trip to Sunderland.

Fans attending La Liga and Serie A contests in Spain and Italy will also see the ball in use.

In addition, some players in England may wear (NIKE)^RED laces in their boots during the games to show their support for the ‘Lace Up. Save lives’.

It is hoped football fans all over the world will respond by buying a pair of the laces. All the profits from their sale is to be split equally between The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which funds AIDS programs that provide medicine, treatment and services for those living with HIV, and football-based community initiatives that deliver education and understanding around HIV/AIDS prevention.

The (NIKE)^RED ball is a specially designed T90 Ascente - the same make of ball currently used in the Barclays Premier League and boasts all of the technological innovations that the players are accustomed to week in week out, but features the (RED) laces graphic on the exterior.   These (NIKE)^RED balls are available to buy now for £150 from www.nikestore.com.

Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of the Premier League, said:

 “The Premier League has enormous global appeal and we are committed to using our reach to raise awareness of this partnership between, Nike, one of our longest serving commercial partners, and (RED).

A red ball and red laces are simple ideas, but sometimes those are the best

...Richard Scudamore

"The hope is that the profile given through this and the money raised through ‘Lace Up, Save Lives’ will provide significant impetus and funding to the Global Fund’s activities to aid the prevention of HIV/AIDS in Africa.

“Football has a particular resonance in Africa, especially the Barclays Premier League, and our support for this campaign is part of our wider commitment to coaching, education and other good cause investment right across the continent.”

Seb Bishop, International CEO (RED) added: “(RED) works with the most iconic companies in the world, Nike among them.  We are incredibly thankful for their partnership, as well as the support of one of the most iconic football leagues in the world.”