Team Get Caught Short

A youth football game in the South-West descended into a farce when Bath City’s youth team had five players and their manager sent off following a row about underpants! Referee Darren Adie, who was officiating the game against Newport County, contentiously ruled that some of the Bath team’s underwear contravened the official rules.

The FA’s rule 4 says “if thermal undershorts are worn, they are of the same main colour as the shorts.” During the game several of the Bath players fell foul of the ruling, wearing white pants which were visible under the club’s red shorts.

However, what did not help proceedings was that the match was 20 minutes old before the issue came to a head. Bath City first had defender Billy Cooper dismissed for the rule break, followed by his manager Billy Clark for dissent. Four more Bath City players then followed as the referee spotted the offences on them. Yet it was also reported that even after the red cards there were still players on BOTH teams who were technically in breach of this rule but remained on the pitch!

Unsurprisingly, Bath City went on to lose the Youth Cup tie 6-0, with the first goal scored while two of their players were off the field, changing. Bath City chairman Manda Rigby described the parents who saw the game as “distressed and angry,” and said that referee Adie had locked himself in his room after the game. Bath managing director Paul Williams added: “It was all very surreal. I was angry with the officials.

A spokesman for the FA said it was looking into the incident together with the Welsh FA, who supplied the match officials. But then if the rules are made, surely they do have to be stuck to?

This is not the only incident to occur across the country as more teams are being warned by officials about breaking these new rules. In the referee’s defence, it would be them who would get punished from the FA if the player remains on the field, and unless you officiate in the Premiership then it is likely the referee is doing the game is a local man or woman. And they wont want a fine for a team’s error!

So how cans players get shorts to match their team’s colours? Well Monkhouse Intersport does have a promotion at the moment that covers every eventuality for a club. Players can order any colour baselayer and/or undershort they so wish in any combination. In addition to this, players or teams can even have their crest or logo printed directly into the under garment, which is not available with any other form of clothing. With the baselayer available for £24.99 junior and £29.99 seniors, and the undershorts at £23.99 junior and £27.99 seniors, the garments are actually cheaper than the fine a player would receive if they took to the field in the illegal format. These have been made available in their Cheadle Hulme, Preston and Harrogate stores. Visit www.monkhouseintersport.com for more info.

About these ads