Tag Archives: shin

FIFA get tough on socks and shin-pads

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FIFA show their true colours by getting tough on… socks and shin-pads

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UPDATED:

21:14 GMT, 17 August 2012

Of all the issues they might have
dealt with to boost your enjoyment during the new Premier League season,
the lawmakers at FIFA have chosen to demand that all tape holding up
socks and shin-pads must be the same colour as the sock.

Never mind goal-line technology, Sepp
Blatter is getting tough in the sock department. It will be a challenge
for kit men up and down the land, first sourcing the right colour tape
to match the socks their team are wearing on any given day, and then
explaining to players with their own rituals and superstitions why it is
so.

In charge: Fifa president Sepp Blatter

In charge: Fifa president Sepp Blatter

Although it is a FIFA rule change and thus applies to all levels of the game, referees are not expected to impose it with great energy in parks football, where sometimes socks don't match, let alone the tape.

The players' equipment rule-change comes in to help assistant referees looking across the offside line see the distinction between the teams after some players had taken to using so much tape on their socks that it might be difficult to tell clearly what colour the socks were.

Ryan Shotton should have been booked – Graham Poll

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I would have booked Shotton for getting shirty

Ryan Shotton should not have been allowed to use a towel from under his shirt to dry the ball on Sunday — another mistake in law by the match official.

Pictures clearly show Shotton drying the ball and circumventing the Premier League’s ban on using towels on the touchline.

Spot the towel: Ryan Shotton dries the ball during the game with Tottenham

Spot the towel: Ryan Shotton dries the ball during the game with Tottenham

Under laws of the game, items other than the basic shirt, shorts, socks, shin guards and boots must have the sole purpose to protect a player physically and pose no danger to others.

In the first instance the referee should tell the player to remove the towel and any refusal or repetition should result in a caution.

Controversy: Stoke

Controversy: Stoke”s goals against Tottenham came from long throws

Interestingly, both Stoke goals came from Shotton’s unfair long throws. Match officials should now be aware of the tactic and stop this unsporting act immediately.