Safety

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

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 or tights are worn, they must be of the same main colour as the shorts
• stockings- if tape or similar material is applied externally it must be the same colour as that part of the stocking it is applied to
• shinguards
• footwear

Shinguards

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

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

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.

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)

Decisions of the International F.A. Board

Decision 1
Players must not reveal undergarments showing slogans or advertising. The basic compulsory equipment must not have any political, religious or personal statements. A player removing his jersey or shirt to reveal slogans or advertising will be

sanctioned by the competition organiser. The team of a player whose basic compulsory equipment has political, religious or personal slogans or statements will be sanctioned by the competition organiser or by FIFA.