The Referees' Report

Laws of the Game

Laws 1 - 4 (the factual laws)

Law 4 - The Player's Equipment

Players must not wear anything which is dangerous to themselves or other players.

The goal keeper must wear colours which distinguish him from the other players and the referee.

Basic compulsory equipment comprises a jersey or shirt, shorts, stockings, shin-guards and footwear.

Shin-guards

• must be covered entirely by the stockings
• must be made of suitable material e.g. rubber, plastic, polyurethane or similar
• must provide a reasonable degree of protection

Punishment

For any infringement of this law, the player at fault shall be instructed by the referee to leave the field of play to adjust his equipment or obtain any missing compulsory equipment unless he has previously corrected his equipment.

Play shall not be stopped immediately for an infringement of this law.

Any player instructed to leave the field to adjust his equipment shall not take part in the game without first reporting to the referee, who shall satisfy himself that the player's equipment is in order.

Such players shall only enter/re-enter the field when the ball is not in play.

Did you know?

A player must not wear an article which is considered by the referee to be dangerous to other players, e.g. spectacles, medallion etc.

A player may be sent from the field of play for wearing incorrect equipment.

Shin-guards must be worn by all players at all levels of football.

Footwear must be worn by all players.

previous: Law 3 next: Law 5