In past years, players were permitted to wear VISIBLE undershorts of a different colour to the main colour of their shorts providing that they could not be seen while the player was standing still.
NOTE: this permission did not apply to VISIBLE undershirts
This will NO LONGER be the case.
Law 4 from the FIFA Laws of the Game states:
Basic Equipment
The basic compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items:
• a jersey or shirt with sleeves – if undergarments are worn, the colour of the sleeve must be the same main colour as the sleeve of the jersey or shirt.
• shorts – if undershorts are worn, they must be of the same main colour as the shorts
Please ensure that all your team officials and players are aware of this to avoid any unpleasant situations.
Referees will be enforcing this from the commencement of fixtures.
Below is a notice from the Football Brisbane Referees' Adminstrator in relation to this issue:
Clubs need to remind their coaching and playing staff about the wearing of undershirts/shorts under match uniforms. In line with instructions from the National Director of Referees and as is clearly outlined in Law 4, if any player is wearing a VISIBLE undershirt, it must be the same colour as the predominant colour of the jersey sleeve, if they are wearing VISIBLE undershorts, the colour must also be the same as the predominant colour of the shorts.
Any previous discretions offered by referees will no longer be the case. In simple terms if the shirt is white, the undershirt sleeve is white. If the shorts are black, the undershorts are black. It should also be noted that players MAY NOT wear full length undershorts on their legs whether they are the same colour as the shorts or not.
Please ensure that all appropriate personnel are aware of this instruction to avoid unnecessary debates before or during matches.
Last updated: Tuesday June 1, 2010 4:48PM
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