Edgar Davids is one of the most iconic players to kick a soccer ball, not because he won three Scudettos with Juventus, not because he conquered Europe with Ajax but it was because he wore the coolest shades in the business.
Well, they were protective goggles that Davids wore because of his battle with glaucoma. His illness did not stop him playing though, he was a top player and could pick a pass out.
Can soccer players wear hats, jewelry, and glasses?
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) states that they may not wear all jewelry on the soccer field. There are provisions in soccer equipment laws for the wearing of hats and glasses though.
Any attempt to cover the Jewelry with tape is prohibited too, even if your partner requires it from you! Safety on the soccer field is a primary concern for the lawmakers of the game and is dealt with in the IFAB’s Law 4, which addresses played equipment in its entirety.
Jewelry
Jewelry falls under the category of equipment that presents potential harm to other players on the field, including the soccer player wearing that Jewelry.
However, the other consideration to be made centers on equipment that protects a soccer player in the field. Among the more obvious protective items are things like shin guards and cleats.
Can Players Wear Jewelry?
It is a duty for soccer officials to check players before they enter the field of play. It is a critical aspect of their jobs. However, there are those soccer players who slip under the radar. If they find a soccer player to be wearing jewelry either before entering or while on the soccer field, the match officials will tell them to take the prohibited items off.
The Football International Federation Association states;
‘All items jewelry (necklaces, rings, braclets, earrings, leather, rubber bands) are strickly forbidden and must be removed.’
‘Using tape to cover jewelry is not acceptable’
FIFA Law 4 – Players’ Equipment
We all know how rebellious soccer players can be, though. A soccer player can break an opponent’s leg, see it on replay, and deny that he was the offender. You can imagine the potential for a soccer player to resist instructions to remove jewelry.
Under those circumstances, a soccer player can be ordered to leave the field when play stops again. Sometimes, players deserve some benefit of the doubt and cannot remove the offending item while still on the field of play. A repeat offense or blatant refusal to remove jewelry can cause a caution for the offending player.
Can Soccer Players Wear Hats?
Besides shin guards and cleats, other protective items on a soccer field include headgear – or what we think passes for hats. As they call it in rugby, a scrum cap. It is a padded hat that protects a player from head injuries.
• Be black or the same main colour as the shirt (provided that the players of the same team wear the same colour)
FIFA Law 4 – Players’ Equipment
• Be in keeping with the professional appearance of the player’s equipment
• Not be attached to the shirt
• Not be dangerous to the player wearing it or any other player (e.g. opening/closing mechanism around neck)
• Not have any part(s) extending out from the surface (protruding elements)
Can Players Wear Baseball Caps?
There is also a provision for the conventional baseball cap on a soccer field. It is very common to see goalkeepers wearing caps on soccer fields, at all levels of the game. That is because they are the only players permitted wearing caps on the field.
We live in an age when caps have become somewhat of a fashion statement. We often encounter sporting codes where the caps are worn backward. Many people have tried to wrap their heads around that!
However, for the soccer goalkeeper, there are very logical reasons to wear a cap. Playing a game in the evening when the sun is low can affect the goalkeeper’s view, to the point of being temporarily blinded.
Goalkeepers already have a considerable amount to think about when they are on a soccer field. The last thing they need is for that irritating ray of sunlight to distract them while trying to produce a shut-out.
What people take for granted is that rain and wind can distract on a soccer field. It is more common in the United Kingdom than any other place in the world but they play a considerable amount of their soccer in appalling conditions.
Even when it is snowing sometimes. The goalkeeper cap also comes in handy during those periods of heavy rainfall or snow – or both.
Can Soccer Players Wear Glasses?
Soccer lawmakers FIFA also clarifies that they permit sports spectacles on a soccer field. If you wear glasses for any reason in your day-to-day routine, a common sporting principle is that this should not be able to hinder you on the soccer field or any other field.
It is not uncommon for professional athletes to wear contact lenses when they are on the soccer field. Yes, soccer is a contact sport but they can manage the situation, may depend on which position you play on the soccer field.
Offensive and defensive players will have more challenges than most with wearing contact lenses. Dirt or grass in the eye will be a call for the physio to apply the eyewash.
‘ Non-dangerous protective equipment, for example headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made of soft, lightweight padded material is permitted as are goalkeepers’ caps and sports spectacles.’
FIFA Law 4 – Players’ Equipment
The prospects of those contact lenses falling out and breaking are high. It is a massive inconvenience at the best of times – have you ever tried to find small clear objects in the grass?
Sports Glasses
However, beyond that, it can be an expensive exercise for you and presents some physical dangers – albeit minor risks. Sports glasses or protective goggles are the best way to go to a soccer field, for a few reasons.
Polycarbonate lenses are a very common feature for those who wear sports glasses on a soccer field as they do not break easily. Besides that, you want frames that are safe and durable.
Another key point here is that you should consult an optometrist if you feel you might need to use glasses on a soccer field. Just to be clear on all the risks and benefits presented by it.
Can Players Wear Protective Equipment?
Players that are returning to the game after sustaining an injury to their face, for example breaking a cheekbone may wish to protect themselves by wearing a mask. This also applies to any other protection that is needed. The key importance is that the equipment will not endanger another player as FIFA states;
‘Modern protective equipment such as headgear, facemasks and knee and arm protectors made soft, lightweight padded material are not considered dangerous an are therfore permitted’
FIFA Law 4 – Players’ Equipment
Soccer Players Who Wear Glasses
1- Lilian Thuram: What many soccer fans didn’t know is that the French legend had some issues with eyesight – and that he wore contact lenses on the soccer field. He still managed to win the World Cup with France.
2- Kaka: Truth be told, I always had his suspicions about AC Milan and Brazil legend Kaka. There was seldom a moment on the soccer field when he didn’t look like he was squinting. He wore contact lenses during soccer matches and won many trophies at Real Madrid.
3- Edgar Davids: Dutch soccer player is the one most responsible for making the protective goggles fashionable on a soccer field. It helped that the soccer fraternity was dealing with a European and Serie A champion here, a prominent player during a legendary period in global soccer. Despite all of his most redeeming qualities as a player, the glasses stole the show.
4- David De Gea: Once among the most sought-after soccer goalkeepers in the world. A key feature for any goalkeeper is the capacity to develop a read for the game both on the defense and when turning defense into offense. Your peripheral vision is critical under those circumstances. Dea Gea is among those soccer players who need a little help with that. We know him to wear contact lenses when on the soccer field.
5- Cristiano Ronaldo: He has often been seen wearing spectacles at formal events. They make him look rather dashing if we are honest with ourselves. That is all the confirmation you need that the Portuguese soccer legend wears contact lenses when he is on the soccer field.
Soccer Players Who Wear Hats
Wearing hats for goalkeepers is very common as shown by ‘The 18’ – this especially so in the colder months when the sun sets early and proves more of a problem.
Joe Hart: The Burnley stopper is famous for wearing caps. He may be more known for his days at Manchester City. The Burnley stadium Turf Moore is made up of four stands and they have open corners that allow a considerable amount of sharp sunlight in. The angle of that sunlight is often awkward for goalkeepers. Hart seems to have extra trouble with it. He wears caps often.
Adam Davies is a Welsh player. Wales is one of the wettest countries in Europe. Cloudy, wet and windy is the description used for the climate in Wales. We can forgive him for being bothered by the sun when competing in the English Football League Championship. I have known him to wear a cap while on the soccer field.
Chris Kirkland played a lot of his soccer in the English Football League Championship. There is a trend here, which seems to suggest that it is more acceptable for goalkeepers to wear caps while competing in the lower tiers of English soccer.
John Burridge is a timely reminder that soccer rebellion is not a new phenomenon. He made his professional debut in 1969. The images of him wearing a visor are popular in searches and among soccer-loving fans. There is more to him than just that visor though. One would hope so, after 768 professional appearances in England.
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Related Questions
Is it better to wear glasses or contact lenses in a soccer game? The professional players wear contact lenses as they are more secure, it is okay for a youth player to wear glasses secured around the head.
Do goalkeepers wear padding? Goalkeepers must wear shin pads like outfield players. Some goalkeepers have padded shorts/pants/sleeves to protect them from a fall from a dive.
