The Excitement of World Cup Equipment Regulations

The main FIFA World Cup website has a lot of information, some useful and some not so useful. I was poking around there the other day and came across a section called “Official Documents.” I was looking for Sepp Blatter’s instructions to the referees that they must let Brazil win this summer, but instead came across this 25-page document (PDF) outlining the equipment regulations teams must follow during official FIFA international competitions. I know you are busy and have more of a life than I do, so I have excerpted a few of the more interesting rules and regulations for your reading pleasure.

FIFA: The player’s name does not have to be applied to the back of the shirt for preliminary competition matches. However, this is a necessity for FIFA final competitions.

WCB note: This is designed to help coaches remember their players named.

FIFA: No kit item worn by an outfield player (shirt, shorts and socks) may contain more than four colours. This provision also applies to the colours used for letters and numbers (player’s name, number, etc.). Furthermore, one colour must be clearly predominant on the shirt, shorts and socks. In the case of striped or chequered shirts, one of the colours must be predominant on the other kit items.

WCB note: Seriously, everyone knows that wearing more than four colours at once is a fashion disaster. See the Jorge Campos picture above for further evidence of this.

FIFA: The national flag must not contain manufacturer identification, sponsor advertising, design features or other elements. Furthermore, the national flag must not interfere with the other elements of the kit identifying the player (i.e. player’s name, player’s number).

WCB note: Just when you thought Budweiser could sponsor the American Flag!

FIFA: Those Member Associations that have won the FIFA World Cup™ may put a symbol on the playing shirt representing this accomplishment and the number of times won.

WCB note: What happens when Brazil runs out of shirt space for all those little stars? It would be funny if teams used ™ to designate their victories instead of stars.

FIFA: Items worn under the playing kit consist of underwear, T-shirts, thermal shorts, etc.

WCB note: Let’s hope “etc.” includes bras for some of the heftier players out there.

FIFA: For final competition matches, FIFA will provide each participating association with all the equipment needed by the teams in the inner enclosure and on the pitch for storage, technical use, refreshments and medical treatment before and during the match. This equipment is compulsory and consists of the following: a) Bags (for water bottles and for goalkeeper gloves) b) Coolers c) Water bottles d) Repair kit e) First aid cases All of the aforementioned items and their contents must remain free of all forms of sponsor advertising and manufacturer identification. Additional sideline equipment must be approved in advance by the FIFA general secretariat.

WCB note: A repair kit? Water bottles? Who knew FIFA was so generous!

FIFA: Swiss law applies for the interpretation of the provisions of these regulations.

WCB note: Violaters will be sent to Geneva and will be forced to enjoy fine dining, wine and conversation with FIFA head Sepp Blatter.

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