Last month, Nike finally released the all-new, revolutionary Nike Football Snood. However, if you thought that we could soon see the Nike Snood on pitch in an official match, that won't happen.
FIFA Banned Neckwarmers / Snoods Already Seven Years Ago
In Winter 2010-2011, many popular footballers such as Carlos Tevez and Samir Nasri started to wear neckwarmers. This caused a debate whether it should players be allowed to wear neckwarmers / snood, resulting in a ban from FIFA because of safety issues. It was the International FA Board that agreed to enforce a rule banning the snood.
The IFAB used Law 4, relating to players’ equipment, to banish the snood. It says: ‘A player must not use equipment or wear anything which is dangerous to himself or another player.’ However, as one fashion item was banned, the IFAB turned style police over another.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said: ‘A snood is not part of the equipment and it can be dangerous, even like hanging somebody. The decision was unanimous. There was not even a discussion because this is not part of the uniform.
‘I was a player in both winter and summer weather and I never wore a snood. We must pay attention to the laws of the game. It was rejected unanimously not only by the board today but, before, by all the technical staff and by the secretary-generals. It’s a non-issue.’
So players are not allowed to wear the Nike Snood in official matches, but can use them in training. If you think about getting a Nike Snood yourself, we expect that officials will not enforce the rule in lower league football.
Did you know this? Share your thoughts in the comments below.