Contrast on W3C site

Hi folks,

I just had a client point out that the W3C site is not meeting color
contrast requirements - specifically the view links at the top of the page.
The grey on grey background of those definitely do not. Is there some WCAG
exception which applies to the use here?

The client is really bucking the need to meet 1.4.3 and having them show a
W3C violation is not helping my case.

https://www.w3.org/Consortium/

Thoughts?
Susan
-- 
susan hewitt
senior accessibility specialist
deque systems | 703-623-8717