Question Number: 17224

Law 4 - Players Equipment 10/9/2007

RE: Competitive Under 15

Russ Robitaille of manchester, ct usa asks...

This question is a follow up to question 17164

First of all, thank you both for your comments [17164]...I do appreciate your perspective. But just a follow up comment...I agree with the spirit of your comment, but I'm not certain I agree with the assessment. Not to be argumentative but Law 4 indicates a shirt or jersey must be worn...the only mention of sleeves is if an undergarment is worn...the sleeves must match the shirt. The other comment made which mentioned the tucking in of the shirt (which by the way I also happen to agree in spirit)is however erroneous as that is not in the Laws either, but is rather an issue of gentlemanly conduct that has been carried over through the years. I guess my point is that I have often found it a bit hard to swallow the "tyranny" that occassionally comes with the striped uniform :), especially when being directed at kids. I'm now off my soapbox!

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

Your welcome.

Russ, for the most part coaches shouldn't quote the Laws because sometimes the referee is right in what he says. Law 4 has two parts just like most of the Laws, the Law itself and the Decisions of the International FA Board. When one reads the 2007-08 Laws he finds the following:

Decision 1

Players must not reveal undershirts that contain slogans or advertising. The basic compulsory equipment must not contain any political, religious or personal statements.

A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned by the competition organiser. The team of a player whose basic compulsory equipment contains political, religious or personal slogans or statements will be sanctioned by the competition organiser or by FIFA.

Jerseys must have sleeves.

Oops! There it is. Problem is when this requirement entered the Laws if was intended to level the playing field at the highest levels of The Game. What it did was cause many folks in America to complain [read bitch mightily here] about having to buy jerseys with sleeves to replace those already purchased without sleeves. This was 2002. US Soccer caved in and wrote a paper saying referees were supposed to report teams who wore jerseys without sleeves on the match report but allow them to play. When the match report went forward the mention of a team playing without sleeves was overlooked. Presto, sleeves don't have to be there. A myth is born, this time the child of US Soccer.

Stay on your soapbox but remember no matter how high it is the referee is always right, even though to some it would appear not to be so. And that is because Law 5 says the referee is the final word on things; and it may be found in writing: "a decision to allow or not to allow a player to wear certain apparel or equipment". q.v. Law 5 IFAB Decision 1.

Whew, that allows me down from my soap bottle's cap...

Regards,

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

Not everything is written in the Laws of the Game. If it were, they would turn into an encyclopedic volume rather than a portable booklet.

Because of that, and because the US does not have a soccer-rich culture, the USSF has published additional directives called "Advice to Referees". In section 4.1 we find, "Players' jerseys must remain tucked inside their shorts, ..."

It's not just a referee being overly officious. It is the way the game is played.

Answer provided by Referee Keith Contarino

As to the shirts being tucked in, not only is this found in Advice To Referees but the subject has been dealt with on US Soccer's official Q&A website and US Soccer emphatically states shirts will be tucked in. I'm happy you have read the LOTG but there are many other sources of official dogma that referees look to that coaches do not.

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

The bit about the shirts being tucked in has been in the Additional Instructions in the Laws of the Game booklet for many years. It said: "Players ' Outfits: A) The referee shall ensure that each player wears his clothes properly and check that they conform with the requirements of Law 4. Players shall be made aware that their jersey remains tucked inside their shorts and that their socks remain pulled up. The referee shall also make sure that each player is wearing shinguards and that none of them is wearing potentially dangerous objects (such as watches, metal bracelets, etc.)" It has become so much a part of the game that it is no longer written in the Laws, but that doesn't mean it has gone away. You won't find in the Laws that a player gets sent off and can't be replaced written in the Laws either, but it is part of the game. They can't write everything down, you know.