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LAW 4 - PLAYER EQUIPMENT EXPLAINED

Recent changes by FIFA to Law 4 of  the Laws of the Game has generated many questions in British Columbia’s soccer community as to whether or not a player is permitted to wear jewelry and other non-compulsory equipment during a soccer match. The following clarification is provided in an effort to assist players, coaches, parents, referees and officials understand Law 4 and the expectation our organization has on the interpretations of Law 4.

The Association notes that, under the “Powers and Duties” of the referee in Law 5, he or she has the authority to ensure that the players’ equipment meets the requirements of Law 4. Consequentially, any indication that the British Columbia Soccer association has a “zero tolerance policy” to jewelry and other non-compulsory equipment is inaccurate

Non-compulsory Equipment
Examples of non-compulsory equipment
Safety
Basic Equipment
Infringements/Sanctions
Restart of Play
Decisions of the International F.A. Board
BCSoccer Ruling on Sikh Kara Braceletes

Background

The Association’s regulations require member clubs, districts, and leagues to use the FIFA Laws of the Game for 11 a-side soccer matches.  The FIFA Laws of the Game have regulations (Law 4) that prohibit the wearing of equipment that would be unsafe to the players and officials involved with the match.

Non-compulsory Equipment

The British Columbia Soccer Association's interpretation of Law 4 with respect to non-compulsory equipment is:

In cases of demonstrated need, players may wear non-compulsory equipment if, in the sole opinion of the referee and after conducting a safety inspection, the equipment is deemed to be safe for all match participants.

Examples of non-compulsory equipment (not a finite listing):

1.         Religious and Cultural Items (i.e. Turban, Sikh Kara, Hajib, Patka, and Phul)

2.         Medical Items (Medical alert bracelets / necklaces, casts – suitably padded)

3.         Clothing Items (i.e. soft gloves in cold weather)

Common sense has long been a cornerstone of good refereeing and recent events have demonstrated, more than ever, the need for Referees to apply common sense in the application of the Laws of the Game. While common sense is not actually included in the FIFA Laws of the Game, it is often referred to as “Unwritten Law 18” such is the importance of its use in good refereeing. Common sense becomes even more important where a player cites a “demonstrated need” as a reason for wearing non-compulsory equipment. With that in mind, the association requests that referees, players, coaches and team officials avoid conflict and confrontation over non compulsory equipment and instead take a ‘common sense approach” to the application of Law 4. It should be noted that players are prohibited from wearing non-compulsory equipment solely for the purposes of adornment. As well, players are expected to follow the instruction of referees as it pertains to the taping and padding of any non-compulsory equipment.

Modern protective equipment such as headgear, facemasks, knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight, padded material are not considered dangerous and are therefore permitted. Referees are expected to be aware that new technology has made sports spectacles much safer. It would be considered extremely unusual for a referee to prevent a player in participating in a match because he or she is wearing modern sports spectacles.

This interpretation supersedes all previous interpretations distributed by the British Columbia Soccer Association. Attached to this memo is a copy of Law 4 of  FIFA’s Laws of the Game.

Safety

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

Basic Equipment

The basic compulsory equipment of a player is:

• A jersey or shirt

• Shorts – if thermal under shorts are worn, they are of the same main color 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 colors 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 field 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 organizer.

• Jerseys must have sleeves.

BCSoccer Ruling on Sikh Kara Braceletes

September 9, 2005

The British Columbia Soccer Association wishes to provide referees with clarification on the application of Law 4 - Player Equipment as it pertains to players wishing to wear a bracelet called a Sikh Kara. Players wishing to wear this type of bracelet during a soccer match should be permitted to do so. The Association recommends that referees ask players wishing to wear such a bracelet to wear a wrist band over the bracelet or place tape over the bracelet.

Burnaby, British Columbia - Sep 06, 2005 The British Columbia Soccer Association would like to provide the following statement regarding media reports about BCSA regulations.

Reports from various media outlets have stated that the British Columbia Soccer Association has a regulation prohibiting the wearing of religious headgear during soccer matches. The Association wishes to state that this is categorically incorrect. The British Columbia Soccer Association also wishes to formally state that the use of religious head gear similar to that worn by players at the Langley Labor Day Tournament is not prohibited by our association.

The Association regrets most sincerely the incident which occured in Langley and will be conducting a thorough investigation to ascertain a full understanding of the issue.

The Association does have a regulation requiring member clubs, districts, and leagues to use of FIFA's Laws of the Game for 11 a-side soccer matches. The FIFA Laws of the Game have a regulations (Law 4) that prohibit the wearing of any equipment that would be unsafe to the players and officials involved with the match. The British Columbia Soccer Association's interpretation of this rule is that the wearing of religious head wear similar to that worn at the Langley tournament is not a violation of Law 4.

The Laws of the Game also require the Referee to apply his or her own judgement in the application of the laws.

The FIFA Laws of the Game are generally available on most soccer web sites around the world. The Association regrets that media reports have not included the specific regulation that pertain to this issue as the organization believes this would have prevented the mis-information currently being circulated both in the media and within the soccer community.

British Columbia Soccer Association

The Association is the designated "Provincial Sport Organization" for the sport of soccer in BC and is a full member of the Canadian Soccer Association. As such, we are entrusted by the statutes of FIFA, the CSA's constitution, BC Soccer's constitution and the Provincial Government's Societies Act with the mandate of fostering, developing and promoting the game of soccer in British Columbia.

Website: http://www.bcsoccer.net

The British Columbia Soccer Association is a member association of the Canadian Soccer Association and comes under the control, of the World and the North American governing bodies - International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) and the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF). Website: http://www.fifa.com