Question Number: 35986

Law 4 - The Players Equipment 8/19/2025

RE: Adult

Douglas Wix of Liverpool, Merseyside United Kingdom asks...

I have noticed many players at all different levels of football wearing these socks that cover just around 6 inches of their legs,notably Grealish & Wirtz but many others. How is this allowed & do referees have a say in this from a safety aspect as to me it's an accident waiting to happen!
I read that Grealish washed his socks & they came out like that & now he is superstitious, although assume that's a jest. Any thoughts please?

Answer provided by Referee Peter Grove

Hi Douglas,

There is nothing in the laws that specifies how far up a player's legs their socks must reach. There is a requirement that the socks must cover the shinguards but since there is no minimum size for shinguards and players like Grealish wear absolutely tiny ones, that doesn't help establish a minimum height for the socks either.

You might think that the IFAB would be concerned enough with player safety to not allow such miniscule shinguards, but they actually issued guidance just recently that says the size of the shinguards is a matter for the player to decide, and it is not up to the referee to dictate their size.

In fact, Law 4 now includes the following statement:

"Players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shinguards."

That being the case, although I haven't seen the issue of sock height or size addressed directly, I have to suppose the policy would be the same as for shinguards, namely that it is to be left up to the player.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Douglas
You certainly might think it'd be a smart idea to wear shin guards that actually protect your shins and wear a set of socks that cover them. As long as the shin guards are not flopping around loose causing any tripping issues players are responsible for the size and suitability the referee is only responsible for that they're actually wearing them. It’s a safety rule that’s been hollowed out. The intention is protection, but the enforcement is minimal.
Players like Jack Grealish and Florian Wirtz have made tiny shin guards and low socks part of their signature look, and IFAB has essentially shrugged and said, “Your body, your choice, However by my standards that choice was gutless. There are a lot of dumb rules being considered for change


In a few years I see ruling by committee with with a scoring system from a group of referees watching on camera from around the pitch, they hit a scoring buzzer to call a foul or no foul or offer a card or no card. Sterilizing the beautiful game. Cheers

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Douglas
Thanks for the question and good to hear from you again
When I began playing the game shin pads were discretionary and some players wore them and others did not. You may recall the likes of Stiles and Breitner of Germany who wore their socks rolled down around the ankles.
Anyway IFAB like most governing bodies to make their sports safer mandated that shin pads should be compulsory and for them to work correctly have to be covered by the socks.
At the Pro level there are all sorts of ways that players wear the pads. Some do not like the sock restriction on the back of the calves and they rip the socks in the calf area to loosen them. Others use ankle grip socks followed by taping of the pads to the shin followed by a sock with the foot section cut off making a sock tube followed by taping. Others like Grealish and others prefer to have the socks down low and to satisfy the law requirement use mini pads

What has happened is that many young players mimic the pros using what ever method they believe works for them or what is cool.
Referee Grove quotes the relevant section of the law and as long as a player has shin pads and covered with a sock that meets the requirement of the Law.
So essentially it is a matter for the player to decide the protection level of the pads and the referees are only required to ensure that pads are worn.