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In August 1891, the first Referee and Linesmen took their places on the field of play for the start of the 1891/92 Football League season. The Football League had been formed in 1888 and for the first three years of its existence, Referees and Umpires officiated, but in 1891 the Referee actually moved onto the field of play and was allowed to use a whistle to stop play. The Linesmen were given a handkerchief on a stick. No uniform was imposed, so most officials turned out in their casual best; probably woollen cap, riding britches and blazer, usually in their school or university colours. And so the dress code continued.
For the first World Cup Final in 1930, between Uraquay and Argentina, Belgian Referee, Jean Langenus, wore plus fours, a red striped tie and a black dinner jacket. For the 1938 World Cup Final, French Referee, George Capdeville, wore a dark blue shirt under his blazer, with the buttons undone to expose his chest.
By the 1950 World Cup, FIFA had decided on a uniform for officials; black socks, white shirt, black shorts and blazer. (The choice of black was apparently due to the excess of black material left over after the war). The blazer was phased out during the 50's, and the now familiar black shirt with detachable white collar and cuffs was introduced…..
The seventeen laws were introduced in 1894and the first chart (LOAF) was published in 1896. Since the formation of FIFA in 1904, The laws have been expanded and amended on many occasions, to give us our modern LOAF.
Law 5 deals with the referee and describes his powers and duties, but there is no mention of uniform. (Although in the 1948 chart, it says that the referee should wear his spare whistle on a thong around his neck, which sounds a little kinky to me). However, law 4. (Players Equipment) says that a goalkeeper must wear colours, which distinguish him from the other players, the referee and assistant referees. So under law it appears that the referee can wear any colours as long as he does not clash with either team or the goalkeeper.
It is left to the F.A. or County Rules to tell us what to wear. Surrey F.A. specify that referees officiating in their competitions must wear traditional black shirts with white collars and cuffs, black shorts and plain black stockings or black with plain or ringed white tops. The Surrey Premier League says that its officials should wear predominately black. I find this quite acceptable, but surely if you restrict what a referee wears, then you must restrict clubs wearing any colours that clash with the officials. No! Black shorts and socks have to go; black or dark blue shirts have to go or give the referee some leeway in his uniform so he can be distinguished. I have officiated, assessed and watched so many games where the referee has blended into the players because of a clash of kit or players have passed to the referee as they see his black socks come into their vision.
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