The Ref Stop

Differences

callmemyref

callmemyref

Well-Known Member
Undershirts must be:
• a single colour which is the same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve
or
• a pattern/colours which exactly replicate(s) the shirt sleeve
Undershorts/tights must be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts or the lowest part of the shorts – players of the same team must wear the same colour.

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Hi,

can undershirts be different colour?
 
The Ref Stop
Zeigermaher said:
Undershirts must be:
• a single colour which is the same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve
or
• a pattern/colours which exactly replicate(s) the shirt sleeve
Undershorts/tights must be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts or the lowest part of the shorts – players of the same team must wear the same colour.

————————————-
Hi,

can undershirts be different colour?
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No, they can't:
Undershirts must be:
• a single colour which is the same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve

If the undershirt had to be the same as the main colour of the sleeve sleeve that pretty much mandates they must all be the same as each other.
For 50/50 (rare) I think the spirit of the law is clear, that all players wear the same.
 
JamesL said:
No, they can't:
Undershirts must be:
• a single colour which is the same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve

If the undershirt had to be the same as the main colour of the sleeve sleeve that pretty much mandates they must all be the same as each other.
For 50/50 (rare) I think the spirit of the law is clear, that all players wear the same.
Click to expand...
Or,

pattern/colours which exactly replicate(s) the shirt sleeve.
 
Zeigermaher said:
Probably there won’t be much differences but is it still fine?
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Patterns are fine. As seen recently by Schalke
54C1D1BF-8A74-4E53-99E4-82E469754131.jpeg

its also worth noting that you’ll see a lot of premier league teams have undershirts that match the bottom part of a sleeve and not the main colour
 
Are you asking just to know the answer or is it for practical reasons?

Enforcing this strictly should depend on the level you referee at? At most grassroots or youth levels this should be the least of your worries unless the competition also has specific rules for it.
 
one said:
Are you asking just to know the answer or is it for practical reasons?

Enforcing this strictly should depend on the level you referee at? At most grassroots or youth levels this should be the least of your worries unless the competition also has specific rules for it.
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To just know the answer. Players wearing Undertights have to wear the same colour. But I’m wondered what about undershirts.
 
Zeigermaher said:
To just know the answer. Players wearing Undertights have to wear the same colour. But I’m wondered what about undershirts.
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As one said it depends on your level of refereeing.
technically yes but at youth and grassroots football this won’t always be the case. So u less you’re being assessed or its in the rules then its the least of your worries
 
You've answered it yourself when you posted the law. Technically in law the undershirt sleeves have to be the same colour as the main shirt sleeve. If the sleeves are a mix of colours they could wear either colour, but all players must wear the same. For example, if a team has shirt sleeves that are a mix of blue and white they can all wear or all wear white undershirts, you couldn't have some in white and some in blue.

As others have said though, it really depends on the level of football as to how strictly you need to apply these laws. On Hackney Marshes on a Sunday morning you might be lucky to have everyone playing in the same kit, so to try and enforce the under short law when a team is wearing three different colours of shorts would be impractical. I would generally say you need to get stricter at intermediate football levels and above.
 
In my view, if the undershirt is exactly the same as the main shirt, then technically the undershirts may be different. Ie one that is exactly the same as the shirt sleeve and one that is the main colour of the sleeve - however if it is the same as the shirt sleeve then it's not really something that needs to be regarded.
As rusty says you can't have some wearing white and some wearing blue.
 
Requirement for players to wear a shirt/short has been in the laws for a long time. The requirement for undershirt/undershorts to be the same colour as the shirt/short and also all players wear the same color has been introduced in recent years. For me, requiring all players to wear the same colour undershorts but not requiring them to wear the same colour shorts is a bit pedantic in law. But I digress.

Degnann said:
So u less you’re being assessed
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At lower levels grassroots and youth, this should not be an issue even when being assessed. As an assessor I would only test/question the referee's awareness of it and that's where it stops. However unfortunately some assessors make a fuss of it even at the lowest levels. My suggestion is to approach the assessor pre-match and let him/her know you are aware of it but you are going to allow it as per the expectation from the referees in the introduction part of the laws of the game. A reasonable per LOTG approach which should leave no doubt in the assessors mind and might even earn you some brownie points.
 
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one said:
Requirement for players to wear a shirt/short has been in the laws for a long time. The requirement for undershirt/undershorts to be the same colour as the shirt/short and also all players wear the same color has been introduced in recent years. For me, requiring all players to wear the same colour undershorts but not requiring them to wear the same colour shorts is a bit pedantic in law. But I digress.


At lower levels grassroots and youth, this should not be an issue even when being assessed. As an assessor I would only test/question the referee's awareness of it and that's where it stops. However unfortunately some assessors make a fuss of it even at the lowest levels. My suggestion is to approach the assessor pre-match and let him/her know you are aware of it but you are going to allow it as per the expectation from the referees in the introduction part of the laws of the game. A reasonable per LOTG approach which should leave no doubt in the assessors mind and might even earn you some brownie points.
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Thats the approach I've taken when being assessed. Told the observer that I've seen the under shirts/shorts that are a different colour but I'm allowing it as its grass roots and its cold etc.

Of course, on my first ever observation one player had a multicoloured bandana on. I allowed it on the basis that he had very long dreads and it was safer for him to have a bandana, but i defintly wanted to tell the observer that I'd seen it in the pre match checks and I was allowing it.
 
Heres an example of professional football making up their own rules. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a team wear undershirts that have no colour with the shirt or sleeves matching. Only thing I can think of is theres been a last minute kit change and players brought their own baselayers cause otherwise there just shouldn’t be any excuse. Dundee are also wearing blue base with pure white sleeves but only two players so can’t get a photo of it.
72CB7D86-69C9-4445-9B80-1DC160DDE54C.jpeg
 
Degnann said:
Heres an example of professional football making up their own rules. Don’t think I’ve ever seen a team wear undershirts that have no colour with the shirt or sleeves matching. Only thing I can think of is theres been a last minute kit change and players brought their own baselayers cause otherwise there just shouldn’t be any excuse. Dundee are also wearing blue base with pure white sleeves but only two players so can’t get a photo of it.
View attachment 4729
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1609621038200.png

I'm guessing that they've got confused by the (somewhat bizarre) difference between the undershirt and undershort requirements and tried to match the undershirt to the bottom colour of the shirt sleeve .... :rolleyes: :wall:
 
Zeigermaher said:
Let’s say that there are 2 main colours, can players still wear different undershirts?
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No. All players must wear the same coloured undershirts. This has been discussed here before. It is not explicit in the lotg but implied.
 
JamesL said:
Looking at that pic the purple colour would have clashed with the opponents. Still wrongnin original pic but if that's the principles they are working with.
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Absolutely was thinking that myself. Perhaps they thought dundee would have worn white undershirts since their sleeves are white. Obviously the light blue would have been best but thats not to say the club even have light blue ones.
 
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