Question Number: 24601

Law 5 - The Referee 2/20/2011

RE: Rec Under 13

Zach of Marshall, MI USA asks...

As a referee am I allowed to wear football cleats if they look very similar to soccer cleats?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Zach
The advice in the US is that referees must wear BLACK SHOES (may have white manufacturers design) with black laces. So if the cleats are mainly black with black laces I see no reason why not.
The only caveat I have is that if the referee prevents a player from wearing these football cleats, it can draw the smart comment as to why the referee is allowed to wear them!!
The important part is that they are black, clean, fit for purpose and that the referee is comfortable in them.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

Referee should wear cleats that are predominantly black. They do not need to be soccer cleats. Absent some special rule for your local association, a football cleat should pose no issues. (A few youth leagues ban metal cleats and referee should not wear anything that a player cannot - except a watch.)

Many referees in my region (with hard, dry fields) wear black running shoes.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

Almost no referee I know wears any kind of cleats. I have a pair that I have worn once in 12 years and that was in a torrential downpour. The referee shoes I wear have no cleats. When not wearing these I wear all black cross trainers, walking, or running shoes.

As my colleagues say, the shoes should be black and polished. A referee should never wear anything he or she forbids a player to wear other than a watch or 2.