Match officials are being reminded of rules on players wearing jewellery (Gavin Ellis/TGSPHOTO)

Essex FA guidance to grassroots officials

Referees in grassroots Essex football have been advised that ‘Law Is Law - Until You Decide Not To Apply It’ with regards to players wearing jewellery during games.

Match officials are advised that they must apply rules as they’re written to avoid issues further down the line for their colleagues.

Attention has been drawn to the fact that all jewellery is banned during games at Supply League level - and cannot be taped up - although in grassroots the interpretation has one small proviso.

The FA do not want grassroots matches postponed due to “small infringements” so, if a player can prove he/she cannot remove a plain wedding band, they may tape it up and play.

The guidance reads: “You, as the referee, are the final arbiter as to what is right and what is not.

“If you deem that the game is being played at grassroots level and a player tapes up his/her plain wedding band then please report the player and their club to their respective league and the County FA after playing the game.

“If you decide that you will apply law 100 per cent and the player will not play, then the county FA will back you.

“Again, please report the player and their club to their respective league and the county FA. Please remember that the taping up of a plain wedding band is only a last resort; the player must prove that they cannot remove it first.”

For clarification on any local refereeing issue, call Essex FA Referee Development officer James Lisher on 01245 393097 or email james.lisher@essexfa.com. Alternatively, visit www.essexfa.com.