The rules of soccer - The Players' Equipment

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

The rules of soccer - 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 stockings
  • shinguards
  • footwear

The rules of soccer / Rules of football - Shinguards

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

The rules of soccer / Rules of football - Colours

  • The two teams must wear colours that distinguish them from each other and also the referee and the assistant referees
  • Each goalkeeper must wear colours that distinguish him from the other players, the referee and the assistant referees

The rules of soccer / Rules of football - Infringements and sanctions

In the event of 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 must 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 re-enters the field of play without the referee's permission must be cautioned.

The rules of soccer / Rules of football - 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 team from the place where the ball was located when the referee stopped the match (see Law 13 - Position of free kick)

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