On behalf of the Derbyshire County Football Association we wish to clarify the above law and offer guidance on its application.
As I am sure you are all aware that the LAWS OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL now fall in line with the FIFA statutes and as such, Law Four state’s the following;
“A player must not use equipment or wear anything that is dangerous to himself or another player (including any kind of jewellery).”
Of course we need to abide by the Laws of the Game and through experience I believe it is very easy to implement the removal of all jewellery at the senior level. At a local level I do feel we need to adopt a more common sense approach.
In respect of any player wearing an item of jewellery the advice must and always will be to remove the offending article.
The main responsibility of a referee operating at the grass roots level is to ensure that the game takes place and that it is safe to do so. Before the game, referees should carry out an inspection of all players’ equipment. If a player is unable to remove a plain wedding ring, then the referee should apply a common sense approach and ask for the item to be taped up! If a problem then arises during the game the referee will review his decision to allow the item being worn. The issue can then be reported to the appropriate League Secretary for reference.
We do not want to place our referees in a potential confrontational situation prior to the game starting over the issue of a plain wedding band.