Question Number: 5343

Law 4 - Players Equipment

RE: Youth

Barrett Meiselman of Modesto, CA, USA asks...

Re question 5335 on allowable gloves, I have a follow-up question...Most soccer stores now market goal keeper gloves with hard plastic stays in the fingers, designed to protect the keeper from jamming a finger. Since these stays provide a harder surface on the outside of the hand, which could conceivably aid in punching the ball further, and which could potentially increase the risk of injury if poked into the face of an opponent, are they legal?..The proprieter of a local store, who is a fellow referee and a fellow Associate Instructor, assured me they are legal...What is your opinion?..As always, thank you for this essential web site.

Answer provided by Referee Chuck Fleischer

I allow them. Of course if the goal keeper uses them as a weapon, off he goes. The new keeper starts with a penalty...Regards,

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Answer provided by Referee Laflin

Yes the gloves you mention (Adidas Fingersave I presume) are used by most of the English Premiership goalkeepers. They are quite brilliant actually (my brother has a pair)..I allow them too, as Fleischer says, if the goalkeeper does choose to use them as a weapon, I'll let him keep them on as he walks down the tunnel..Regards,

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Answer provided by Referee Fredrikssonk

I would allow them , however, this discision is up to the referee of the game. Cheers!

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