Question Number: 30810

Law 4 - Players Equipment 9/24/2016

RE: Adult

Haji Hussain Jan of Muscat, Muscat Oman asks...

why player remove shirt which has blood on it?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

As far as I am aware, this is for safety reasons. There are quite a large number of blood-borne diseases and although the risk may be relatively small, if a player were to continue playing with a blood-stained shirt, other participants in the match could potentially be at risk through contact with the blood on the shirt.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Haji
The reason is safety. With the growth of blood born diseases FIFA was anxious that players should not come in contact with or be exposed to blood. So the law has zero tolerance and there is no difference between a blood soaked shirt and a lightly speckled one. It is up to the referee to enforce yet there are times at the lower levels where a referee does not see blood on the shirt as it is so small or faint.
If you look at pro physios all now wear latex gloves when treating players. Good safety procedures demand such use yet there are plenty at the lower levels of the game that do not use safety measures.

Answer provided by Referee MrRef

Hi Haji,
with greater medical knowledge the realization that blood is a carrier of certain diseases has created a safety concern. Some are fatal or create severe life threatening illnesses, hence the order to remove the jerseys or not permit players who are bleeding to continue until the blood issue is resolved to the referee's satisfaction.
from our pitch to your pitch in the spirit of fair play