What may and may not be worn during a soccer game? (fully explained)

If you play a game yourself or watch soccer on TV, you may be asking yourself what you can and cannot wear during a soccer game. In this blog, we answer this question. We answer the following questions:

  • Can you wear jewelry during a soccer game?
  • Are you allowed to wear earrings during a soccer game?
  • Are you allowed to wear piercings during a soccer game?
  • Are you allowed to wear a watch during a soccer game?
  • Are you allowed to wear a heart rate monitor during a soccer game?
  • Are you allowed to wear a performance tracker during a soccer game?
  • Are you allowed to use tape to cover jewelry during a soccer game?
  • What about a practice or warm-up?
  • How are players prevented from wearing jewelry during a soccer game?
  • Does it ever happen that jewelry is worn during a soccer game?
  • Who decides what can and cannot be worn during a soccer game?

Below you will find the answers to all the above questions.

Can you wear jewelry during a soccer game?

During a soccer game it is not allowed to wear jewelry. This means that wearing a necklace, ring or bracelet is not allowed. 

This means that you are also not allowed to wear rubber bands or braided bands. 

The reason they are not allowed to be worn is because they can injure other players (both opponents and teammates) and yourself. 

For example, a player's finger could get stuck behind an armband. This could injure both the player wearing the armband and the other player. Consequences could include a bruised or broken finger, for example

Can you wear earrings during a soccer game?

Since some people do not classify earrings as jewelry, we also answer this question. Earrings should not be worn during a soccer game. 

In particular, the player wearing the earrings could sustain ugly injuries if he did. If a player were to accidentally pick at an earring with his fingers, it could tear loose from the earlobe. This will cause ugly injuries. Also, if the ball hits the ear hard, an earring can also cause injuries.

Can you wear piercings during a soccer game?

No it is not allowed to wear piercings during a soccer game. Think for example of a nose, tongue, eyebrow or chin piercing. 

If an opposing or fellow player accidentally holds it, for example, it could tear loose from the face.

In particular, the player who would wear the piercing could suffer ugly injuries and/or wounds. Consider, for example, a torn eyebrow if an eyebrow piercing were torn loose. 

However, opposing players and teammates can also be injured if a player wears piercings. If you come into contact with an eyebrow piercing, for example, during a head duel, you could suffer ugly injuries.

Can you wear a watch during a soccer game?

You are not allowed to wear a watch during a soccer game. This means you are not allowed to wear a sports watch either. 

You can injure other players as well as yourself by wearing a watch. For example, when the frame of the watch gets into someone else's face, it can lead to injuries. It can also happen that a finger of an opponent or fellow player gets stuck behind the strap of the watch. As with a bracelet, this can lead to a bruised or broken finger or, in the case of the person wearing the watch, a bruised wrist.

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Can you wear a heart rate monitor during a soccer game?

Yes wearing a heart rate monitor during a soccer game is allowed. However, there are specific rules associated with this. 

Namely, the heart rate monitor must be carried under the chest and must fit tightly around the body. In addition, the player in question is obliged to wear the heart rate monitor under his soccer jersey. In this way, opposing players, fellow players and the player himself do not run the risk of injury.

Can you wear a performance tracker during a soccer game?

Yes wearing a performance tracker during a soccer game is allowed. However, it must be worn under a soccer jersey, this in a specially made vest. 

This way, wearing a performance tracker cannot pose a danger to anyone on the field. This is because the tracker sits right between the shoulder blades.

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Everything you want to know about STATSports' GPS Performance tracker.

Can you use tape to cover jewelry during a soccer game?

It is not allowed to cover jewelry with tape. In the 1990s, this was still done. For example, you could see players playing with tape or band-aids on their ears, around their fingers and around their wrists. By doing this, they reduced the chance of any accidents. Some players wore the tape around their fingers because there was a ring underneath that was so tight they couldn't take it off. 

Yet today you still see many soccer players wearing tape. Especially around their wrists and ankles. This has nothing to do with hiding jewelry. Why they do wear this you can read in our blog Why do soccer players wear tape (all your questions answered).

What about a practice or warm-up?

It may vary from club to club whether or not a player may wear jewelry, piercings and the like during training. Per club, again, it may differ per training whether these may be worn. 

For example, some players may not wear jewelry, piercings and the like at all during training sessions. Other players may wear them during individual training sessions, but not during group training sessions where physical contact is possible. 

Earrings and piercings may be worn during warm-ups before soccer games. You may have seen on television players like Neymar, Cristiano Ronaldo, Paul Pogba and Memphis Depay wearing them. In particular, earrings often only come off just before the match starts.

How are players prevented from wearing jewelry during a soccer game?

Before a soccer match begins, the referee must check that no one is wearing jewelry, piercings and the like. The fourth official often engages in this task as well. 

The fourth official is also tasked with checking this when substitutes are brought in.

Does it ever happen that jewelry is worn during a soccer game?

Despite being properly monitored and most players taking off jewelry before the game, it does sometimes happen that something is worn. 

For example, when Axel Tuanzebe played against Leicester City, he accidentally still wore his Whoop. This is a fitness tracker that you wear on your wrist and is very similar to a watch.

Who decides what can and cannot be worn during a soccer game?

The rules regarding not being allowed to wear jewelry, earrings piercings, watch and the like are set by the IFAB. The IFAB stands for International Football Association Board. The IFAB determines which rules must be observed during soccer matches. This applies to both amateur and professional football matches. 

Under point 4.1 safety, it states the following:

“A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous.

All items of jewellery (necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, leather bands, rubber bands, etc.) are forbidden and must be removed. Using tape to cover jewellery is not permitted.

The players must be inspected before the start of the match and substitutes before they enter the field of play. If a player is wearing or using unauthorised/dangerous equipment or jewellery, the referee must order the player to:

  • remove the item
  • leave the field of play at the next stoppage if the player is unable or unwilling to comply

A player who refuses to comply or wears the item again must be cautioned.”

Source

Conclusion

By now you know what you may and may not wear during a soccer game. As you have been able to read, most should not be worn. This is for the safety of the opposing players and the person who may be wearing jewelry. 

Curious to learn more about materials and accessories? Click here for an overview. For example, we explain whether wearing a smartwatch is allowed and we give more information about the GPS performance tracker from STATSports.

Published: 
February 9, 2023
Published: February 9, 2023
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