Question Number: 30815

Law 5 - The Referee 9/25/2016

RE: Professional

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

Can a referee wear glasses, while a match?

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

Hi Haji,
I used to wear glasses as a referee.
I don't recommend it for a few reasons
- You WILL be abused for wearing the glasses. It's unfortunate but it will happen. Maybe that abuse would have happened otherwise, maybe not. Still unpleasant
-If it rains then it becomes hard to see. Because of this I would wear a hat on the field the moment it looked like it may start to rain. It helped a lot, though not the most professional look
- Glasses can start to slip off your nose
- they can also fog up when

Despite all of these I had no real problems wearing glasses, but you should use contact lenses if you can. I haven't found any contact lenses that fit me properly so I was stuck using glasses.

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

The short answer is, ''Yes.'' There is nothing in the Laws that would preclude this.

Having said that, as referee Wright points out, there are numerous disadvantages to wearing glasses as a referee and it is noticeable that you will never see a top-level referee wearing them during a match. So contact lenses probably are a better option.

In fact I, like my colleague, used to wear glasses while officiating. I did have contact lenses but I always found them a hassle and due to my astigmatism, which back in the past it was not possible to correct with contacts (I believe it is now) I could not see as well with my lenses in as I could with glasses.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Haji
the answer is yes yet it rarely happens due to the reasons expressed by my colleagues. Most referees wear contact lenses if they can. Those that cant deal as best they can with the situations they find.