Safety

A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).

Basic Equipment

The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:
  • a jersey or shirt
  • shorts – if thermal undershorts are worn, they are of the same main colour as the shorts
  • stockings
  • shinguards
  • footwear

Shinguards

  • are covered entirely by the stockings
  • are made of a suitable material (rubber, plastic, or similar substances)
  • provide a reasonable degree of protection

Goalkeepers

each goalkeeper wears colours that distinguish him from the other players, the referee and the assistant referees Infringements/Sanctions

For any infringement of this Law:

  • play need not be stopped
  • the player at fault is instructed by the referee to leave the field of play to correct his equipment
  • the player leaves the field of play when the ball next ceases to be in play, unless he has already corrected his equipment
  • any player required to leave the field of play to correct his equipment does not re-enter without the referee’s permission
  • the referee checks that the player’s equipment is correct before allowing him to re-enter the fi eld of play
  • the player is only allowed to re-enter the field of play when the ball is out of play
  • A player who has been required to leave the field of play because of an infringement of this Law and who enters (or re-enters) the field of play without the referee’s permission is cautioned and shown the yellow card.

Restart of Play

If play is stopped by the referee to administer a caution:

  • the match is restarted by an indirect free kick taken by a player of the opposing side, from the place where the ball was located when the referee stopped the match

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1

  • Players must not reveal undershirts that contain slogans or advertising. A player removing his jersey to reveal slogans or advertising will be sanctioned by the competition organiser.
  • Jerseys must have sleeves.