Question Number: 33425

Law 4 - The Players Equipment 6/9/2019

RE: Select Under 19

J.V. of Palmyra, Pennsylvania USA asks...

Carter for Jamaica in the world cup game against Brazil on 6/9/19 is clearly wearing earrings. How is this permitted?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi JV
When Ricardo Fuller played for Stoke City in the Premier League he used to replace his earring with a silicone soft insert. It looked like it was an earring yet it was a protective insert.
I have no doubt that the player may have used a similar insert in this situation. One would expect FIFA officials to pick this up given the spotlight of multiple people including VAR
https://commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:FullerStoke.jpg#mw-jump-to-license

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

HI JV,
they either missed it, overlooked it or they were rubber inserts?
Perhaps with the spotlight on this the VAR or FIFA will offer up a comment later?
The Jamaicans have a ways to go to compete at that level.
Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi JV,
I have just checked my DVR recording of this game and some still images available on the web. I would say it's apparent that Trudi Carter is not wearing earrings but rather, as my colleagues have alluded to, white plastic inserts to cover and protect the holes where her earrings would normally be. The inserts look identical to the ones mentioned by ref McHugh, that Ricardo Fuller (who coincidentally enough, was also a Jamaican international) used to wear.

If you look at the still image on the link below, click to enlarge it and then zoom in, you can see the square, white plastic inserts relatively clearly.

https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/trudi-carter-of-jamaica-battles-for-possession-with-news-photo/1154788606?adppopup=true

Here is an excerpt of the statement issued by the FA back in 2008, regarding Fuller's wearing of this kind of protective insert.

''Ricardo Fuller of Stoke City does NOT play with earrings in. He takes them out in front of the referee and covers the two holes with 'plastic caps' [...] to stop dirt getting into the holes and causing a possible infection. The referee checks this before every match.''

I'm guessing the more or less identical wording could be applied to Carter.