The Ref Stop

Players Shorts Too Low

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Dicky Herts

Dicky Herts

Member
Hi. I referee’d an older boys match recently. The Home team played in all red kit. One of the players chose to wear his shorts so that the waistband at the back was let’s say below the line of his buttocks and at the top of his thigh. This exposed his boxer shorts which were a different colour. When I noticed this, I asked him to address it and pull up his shorts. He responded to say that they just fall like that, but I didn’t believe that or else they would not have stayed up at all. My suspicion was that he was wearing shorts like some young people wear their jeans with the back waistband very very low. I did say to him that at halftime he needs to address it properly by either wearing a different pair of shorts or finding a way to keep them in position. When he came out for the second half, we had the same issue and I took this up with their team manager. So he temporarily subbed him off and then when the player came back on the shorts were fine. However, it did cause a bit of a drama “Ref you are very busy no one has ever done this before etc”. But for me, it just looked awful and I felt showed a disrespect for the game.
I guess my question is, is there anything in the Laws of the Game that I can refer to to address this or do my colleagues think I was just too busy?
 
The Ref Stop
Dicky Herts said:
Hi. I referee’d an older boys match recently. The Home team played in all red kit. One of the players chose to wear his shorts so that the waistband at the back was let’s say below the line of his buttocks and at the top of his thigh. This exposed his boxer shorts which were a different colour. When I noticed this, I asked him to address it and pull up his shorts. He responded to say that they just fall like that, but I didn’t believe that or else they would not have stayed up at all. My suspicion was that he was wearing shorts like some young people wear their jeans with the back waistband very very low. I did say to him that at halftime he needs to address it properly by either wearing a different pair of shorts or finding a way to keep them in position. When he came out for the second half, we had the same issue and I took this up with their team manager. So he temporarily subbed him off and then when the player came back on the shorts were fine. However, it did cause a bit of a drama “Ref you are very busy no one has ever done this before etc”. But for me, it just looked awful and I felt showed a disrespect for the game.
I guess my question is, is there anything in the Laws of the Game that I can refer to to address this or do my colleagues think I was just too busy?
Click to expand...
Under garments must be the same colour as the main part of the shorts or the bottom of the shorts. If they're on show, they count as under garments. Simples.
 
Dicky Herts said:
Hi. I referee’d an older boys match recently. The Home team played in all red kit. One of the players chose to wear his shorts so that the waistband at the back was let’s say below the line of his buttocks and at the top of his thigh. This exposed his boxer shorts which were a different colour. When I noticed this, I asked him to address it and pull up his shorts. He responded to say that they just fall like that, but I didn’t believe that or else they would not have stayed up at all. My suspicion was that he was wearing shorts like some young people wear their jeans with the back waistband very very low. I did say to him that at halftime he needs to address it properly by either wearing a different pair of shorts or finding a way to keep them in position. When he came out for the second half, we had the same issue and I took this up with their team manager. So he temporarily subbed him off and then when the player came back on the shorts were fine. However, it did cause a bit of a drama “Ref you are very busy no one has ever done this before etc”. But for me, it just looked awful and I felt showed a disrespect for the game.
I guess my question is, is there anything in the Laws of the Game that I can refer to to address this or do my colleagues think I was just too busy?
Click to expand...
Not covered in LOTG bizarre one but I may be in the minority here I’m just ignoring because I feel like it’s a needless battle which if it escalates I may not be backed on.
 
I think this is a very personal thing. In a top level boys or girls match the referee is doing everyone - including future referees - a great service by acting here.

But I would handle this with a laugh and a smile - while finding a moment to mention the LotG, the competition rules and making light of it, like equating it with tying shoelaces.

I’m glad you acted. Cut socks next!
 
Many years ago I refereed a mid-division open ladies grassroots team. One young lady's shorts.... well..., were really short. A very high cut with an upside-down V shape going even higher each side. Something one would wear to a beach walk on a hot day. A few 80s football shorts were high cut. But this wasn't the 80s (was late 2000s), put those shorts to shame and stood out amongst the rest (which I think was the intent). Anyway, hope I painted the right picture.

I was a middle aged man and there was no way I was going to make an issue out of this. I just had to make sure I concentrate on the game without being distracted :D. Had the same team a few other times that season and the following seasons as well with no issues.
 
ChasObserverRefDeveloper said:
There does not have to be risk in S4.3; safety is in S4. 1, with mention of risk, but other sections do not include the need to consider risk.
For example, goalkeeper shirts, political logos, etc are not risk considerations.
Click to expand...
Well still wouldn’t apply unless I’m missing something you would wrong in law
 
All comes down to interpretation for me. Law states:

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.

Are underpants the same as undershorts?
 
HonestRef said:
Well still wouldn’t apply unless I’m missing something you would wrong in law
Click to expand...
What you are perhaps missing is the fact that the excerpt you posted is inaccurate. Law 4.3 does not mention safety, so the document you used is wrong.
Undershorts/tights must comply with the requirements of Law 4.3.
 
HonestRef said:
Well still wouldn’t apply unless I’m missing something you would wrong in law​
Click to expand...
Yeah, you’re missing something. Perhaps you should read the actual Law before tellling people they are wrong in Law? It really couldn’t be more clear. The title is “colours” and it has nothing to do with safety:

• The two teams must wear colours that distinguish them from each other and the match officials​
• Each goalkeeper must wear colours that are distinguishable from the other players and the match officials​
• If the two goalkeepers’ shirts are the same colour and neither has another shirt, the referee allows the match to be played​
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.​
 
socal lurker said:
Yeah, you’re missing something. Perhaps you should read the actual Law before tellling people they are wrong in Law? It really couldn’t be more clear. The title is “colours” and it has nothing to do with safety:

• The two teams must wear colours that distinguish them from each other and the match officials​
• Each goalkeeper must wear colours that are distinguishable from the other players and the match officials​
• If the two goalkeepers’ shirts are the same colour and neither has another shirt, the referee allows the match to be played​
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.​
Click to expand...
Still nothing as no undershorts or tights are mentioned on the post so still not seeing it.
 
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