Question Number: 15635

Law 4 - Players Equipment 5/29/2007

RE: Competitive Tournament Under 10

Steve of Vero Beach, Florida USA asks...

In the Q & A of the LOTG under Law 4 Question 6 it is asked: May a player wear spectacles during a match?

The answer is: Modern sports spectacles made of plastic or similar material are not normally considered to be dangerous and referees in such circumstances would be expected to allow them to be worn.

In a recent U-9 Tournament game, there was a boy that had wire rimmed glasses. He did not have a sports strap. He did not have protective goggles. Iasked the coach about them and he said the boy could not function without them and no referee has ever questioned them.

I allowed his participation with the glasses and there were no incidents relating to the glasses. However, in the future, based on the FIFA statement above, I'm not so sure I should allow such a thing again. It seems a danger to the player and possibly other players as well. What is your opinion?

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

Personally, I allow standard glasses to be worn as I consider it more dangerous having a person with limited vision running around and into people than having a person with glasses on not running into people.

That said I would not allow them if the glasses pose a danger to player safety -- that cannot be allowed. The decision as to what is dangerous is up to the referee's discretion.

Answer provided by Referee Ben Mueller

If the referee does not consider them dangerous, then yes. It is always up to the discretion of the referee regarding uniform issues. I would need to see them to make my final opinion on the manner.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

You have to decide if it's more dangerous for the player to not be able to see or wear wire rimmed glasses. The only thing I'd make sure of from his parent is that the lenses are plastic and shatterproof.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

It has been the consensus of opinion from the panelists that we would rather have a player on the park able to see rather than one who can't, so we lean that direction when inspection spectacles. Modern tempered glass, plastics and the like have gone a long way towards safer spectacles.

Referees usually don't ask if a player is wearing contact lenses or search for piercings under the uniform so it's difficult to understand when that very same referee prevents wearing of spectacles.

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

There is no doubt that if a ball hit from close range finds the glasses on the head of the individual and drives them back into the face, pain and some injury to body and likely the glasses could occur. That said the lower gonads are vunerable as well and so too possible accidents of varying degrees to the life and limbs from player interaction and hard goal posts. Practical reality says to see is better than not to see but to be blunt at the eite levels sports glasses are made to better protect from potential impact. I have found most spectacles are sufficent but on rare occassions taped and rwisted wire hold togethers do worry me! In our quest to avert every possible circumstance where something bad could occur not wearing glasses is far greater than wearing them! Cheers