FIFA Has Already Forbidden Player Cutting Socks
Jan 31, 2025, by Chris
- FIFA Ban: FIFA's 2025 Equipment Regulations forbid cutting or altering football socks, and this rule has been in place since at least 2022, though largely unenforced.
- Widespread Non-Enforcement: Despite the rule, professional football players frequently cut their socks without facing penalties from officials or governing bodies.
- UEFA Regulations: UEFA doesn't explicitly ban cutting socks, but their regulations emphasize visual uniformity and could potentially disallow modifications if they compromise the intended design of team attire.
Cut football socks are common on professional pitches worldwide. However, football's most significant government body has actually disallowed them, even though nobody noticed this yet. Big thanks to the fantastic football kit community, The Kitsman, for getting the discussion rolling.
FIFA Equipment Regulations Already Forbid Cutting Socks
FIFA has a rule in its 2025 Equipment Regulations that forbids socks from being "cut or altered in any way."
2025 and 2021 FIFA Equipment Regulations
The socks rule can be found in the Article 15.2 of FIFA's 2025 Equipment Regulations:
• Socks must appear as one continuous piece
• No visible alterations or cuts allowed
• Any tape must match the sock color exactly
However, a similar rule was already in place in the previous regulations used in the 2022 World Cup. Will FIFA finally crack down on this widespread practice?
The Curious Case of Non-Enforcement
While the regulation has technically been in place since at least 2022, it has been totally ignored by match officials and governing bodies alike. Stars across top leagues and even international competitions have regularly sported cut socks without facing any penalties or fines - despite FIFA having the authority to sanction players for equipment violations.
The big question is whether FIFA will begin enforcing these regulations through fines or other disciplinary measures. With players from the academy level to the Premier League cutting their socks to reduce calf pressure, any serious enforcement would impact thousands of players worldwide.
Other sock regulations
UEFA Has no Explicit Ban
Meanwhile, UEFA has no explicit rule that directly addresses cutting or modifying socks. However, there are some relevant regulations that could impact this:
- Article 42.01(c) covers "Undersocks and ankle-guards" and specifies that visible undersocks must match the color of the corresponding part of the playing sock
- The regulations are quite specific about visual uniformity of team equipment and maintaining the intended design
That said, while the regulations don't explicitly prohibit cutting socks, any modifications would still need to:
- Maintain the visual uniformity of the team
- Not compromise any manufacturer identifications or required markings
- Not affect the distinctiveness of the playing attire
Pepole's Opinions
Meanwhile, one thing is certain: not many fans appreciate players with holes in their socks; in fact, many dislike it.
What do you think - should FIFA start fining players for cut socks or continue turning a blind eye? Let us know in the comments below.
Fortuna Sittard 26-27 Cup Kit Released - Sponsorless 1957 Tribute
Dutch Eredivisie side Fortuna Sittard and technical supplier Robey have officially revealed a special cup kit for the 26-27 campaign. Created in collaboration with design agency 51North, this release marks the very first dedicated cup kit in the club's history. It serves as a direct tribute to predecessor club Fortuna '54, who won the 1957 KNVB Beker with a memorable Bram Appel hat-trick against Feyenoord.
The Robey Fortuna Sittard 26-27 cup shirt faithfully revives the historic look with a white base highlighted by broad horizontal red and blue stripes across the chest, completing the Dutch tricolor. In true vintage fashion, the jersey comes with long sleeves as standard and features a retro polo collar. Club sponsors voluntarily stepped aside to allow a completely clean, sponsorless front, while the Robey branding and club badge are subtly embroidered in tonal white to maintain the authentic aesthetic.
Additional bespoke details round off the historic tribute. A heritage Fortuna '54 tag sits near the bottom hem, and an embroidered depiction of the KNVB Cup sits neatly below the back collar, added with official federation approval. The shirt is worn with matching white shorts and socks, completing a timeless look for Fortuna's cup run.
FIFA ASEAN Cup Features Same Left-Sleeve Kit Badge as in 2026 FIFA World Cup Final
The opening match between Laos and Brunei provided a full reveal of the sleeve patch pairing for the inaugural FIFA-organized Southeast Asian tournament.
Moving away from the previously expected navy blue, the official tournament patches feature a clean white base. Most notably, the "Football Unites the World" sleeve patch on the left arm is the exact same design that made a single, exclusive appearance at the recent World Cup Final between Spain and Argentina.
Big thanks to @What The Kit for spotting and making the collage.
Adidas River Plate 1996 Long-Sleeve Remake Kit Leaked
We can leak two images of the long-sleeve remake edition of the upcoming Adidas River Plate 1996 remake home kit, offering another look at the faithful recreation of the iconic design worn during River's 1996 Copa Libertadores triumph. The jersey features the club's traditional white base complemented by the famous red diagonal sash and an all-over tonal pattern of club shields and motifs. Authentic 1990s detailing completes the retro aesthetic, including a striped polo collar, a centered Adidas wordmark, the vintage CARP crest on the chest, a stitched sleeve badge, and classic three-stripe bands wrapped around both sleeves.
