Soccer players are allowed to wear face masks if they’ve had a face injury in the past. The purpose of the mask is to protect that part of their faces from further harm, as soccer injuries can often be quite severe. The masks must be approved by the International Football Association Board.
Any newcomer to soccer will notice the strange occurrence of some players wearing face masks, especially when they watch the World Cup. These masks are not the helmets that other sports use or the ones we’ve all become familiar with during the pandemic, but specific masks that cover only parts of their faces. Let’s see why some soccer players wear face masks and if it’s legal to do so.
Table of Contents
- The Reason Why Some Soccer Players Wear Face Masks
- Can Soccer Players Legally Wear Face Masks?
- What Are These Protective Face Masks Made Of?
- Soccer Players That Are Known For Playing With Masks
- Conclusion
The Reason Why Some Soccer Players Wear Face Masks
Soccer players that wear face masks usually do so because they’ve sustained facial injuries in the past. The masks are meant to protect those areas from further harm after they’ve recovered or during the later stages of recovery.
It’s particularly important for players to wear these facial shields if they’ve received facial reconstructive surgery to repair the damage.
Are Facial Injuries Common In Soccer?
According to a study published in the Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, facial fractures are among the most common sporting injuries. It’s particularly prevalent in soccer, where it can be caused when people play the ball with their heads or because of contact with other players’ arms or heads.
Because soccer isn’t seen as a violent sport, protective helmets aren’t allowed. In fact, helmets could make soccer even more dangerous, according to the study. So, many players walk away from a match with broken noses, cheekbones, or other facial fractures.
Can Soccer Players Legally Wear Face Masks?
According to Law 4.4 of the Laws of the Game, soccer rules stipulate that players are allowed to wear any non-dangerous protective equipment made of soft, lightweight, padded material. The law specifically goes on to mention headgear, face masks, knee protectors, and arm protectors. So, face masks are allowed, but not mandated, by the official soccer rules.
These laws were put in place by the IFAB (International Football Association Board), and the particular rule about protective equipment has been in the book since 2015. This means it’s unlikely to change. However, there are a few requirements before a soccer player can wear a face mask:
- The officiating team must inspect face masks and other protective gear before a match starts, and they can determine whether a face mask is allowed on the field.
- The masks must be protective rather than decorative; for example, no player will be allowed to play a match with a mask purely made to make them look funny, impressive, or intimidating.
- The mask must not be dangerous in any way. If there’s a realistic possibility of harm to the player wearing the mask, or any other player, the player may not wear the mask on the field.
- The same rule applies to players, substitute players, or anyone else allowed in the team area before or during a match.
What Are These Protective Face Masks Made Of?
The protective masks must be made of a lightweight but strong material that isn’t dangerous. Because of this, the masks are often made of polycarbonate or carbon fiber, which are incredibly light but can take a brutal beating without cracking.
However, the mask should fit the structure of the player’s face perfectly. A poorly-fitting mask could block the player’s view, slip off mid-game, or cause further damage if the player sustains another hit.
That’s why the masks aren’t generally pre-manufactured, though you can get some generic face masks from medical supply companies. For the best fit, though, the player usually goes for a 3D facial scan to determine their facial structure, after which a mask is modeled around the scan and 3D printed in the appropriate material.
It’s also vital for the masks to have soft padding on the inside, as the hard material they are made of can cause further damage or chafing if they’re not padded. The padding is often something like terrycloth, wool, or cotton. Most masks also have nylon or polyester straps to fasten them around the player’s head.
Since the soccer rules don’t specify many details about the masks, many people improvise and use different materials and techniques. However, these 3D-printed, padded masks are the most popular with professional soccer players.
Do The Masks Have To Be Black?
The IFAB laws don’t specify any particular color for the mask. However, most players choose to keep their masks black because it’s simple and clean and won’t cause distractions on the field. Some players add some graffiti to their masks, though, which is acceptable if it’s kept clean and to a minimum.
Soccer Players That Are Known For Playing With Masks
Some of the most famous professional soccer players that have recently been seen wearing face masks on the field include the following:
- Heung-min Son. This South Korean soccer star sustained a severe eye injury while playing for Tottenham against Marseille in a Champions League match in November 2022. He underwent surgery to repair the damage, after which he had to wear the mask during all games while the injury around his left eye recovered.
- Josko Gvardiol. The Chelsea player sustained a facial injury in a match against SC Freiburg. One broken nose later, medical professionals insisted that he wear a protective facial mask for all upcoming games and the FIFA World Cup.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The 33-year-old Chelsea striker suffered a broken jaw, but not due to a soccer-related injury. Criminals attempted to break into his house in Barcelona, during which Aubameyang sustained his injury, leading to him having to wear the custom-made protective mask.
- Ellyes Skhiri. This Tunisian soccer star had to wear a face mask for his match against France in Qatar due to a broken cheekbone he suffered in October 2022. The mask proved to be so popular that many young fans appeared at the game wearing similar Batman-themed masks.
- Nemanja Matic. The Chelsea player suffered a particularly nasty double fracture to his face when his nose and cheekbone were both broken during a match in 2015. He had to wear a black mask that covered most of his face because of the two fractures. His face mask almost became iconic in the process, and he’s still recognized for it years after he stopped wearing it.
Conclusion
Now that we’ve looked at the reasons why soccer players wear face masks, you may be interested in reading up on why soccer players fake injuries (and if it’s legal to do so). For something a bit more technical, I suggest looking at the total substitutions that are allowed in soccer.
