Football laws amended, mandating single-coloured armbands for team captains

THE International Football Association Board (IFAB) has amended some laws of the game for the 2024/25 football season.

The most significant one is Law 4, which mandates captains to wear single-coloured armbands. The amendments are with effect from July 1. Law 4 is about players’ compulsory equipment.

“The compulsory equipment of a player comprises the following separate items: The team captain must wear the armband issued or authorised by the relevant competition organiser, or a single-coloured armband that may also have the word ‘captain’ or the letter ‘C’ or a translation thereof, which should also be a single colour. The captain must wear an armband which is simple and conforms to the requirements of Law 4 relating to slogans, statements, images and advertising. It may be issued or authorised by the competition organiser,” reads Law 4.

The IFAB comprises of the four British football associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) with one vote each, and FIFA, covering the remaining 207 national associations, with four votes. In this way, all five bodies ensure that Laws are preserved respecting football’s traditions as well as its international reality. Passing a motion requires a three-quarters majority.

Despite the changes, a match commissioner said some teams in the local Castle Lager Premier Soccer League were resisting to comply with the amendments, arguing that referees are making it up. The first ‘universal’ football Laws were drawn up in 1863 in England.

IFAB was founded in 1886 by the four British football associations as the worldwide body with sole responsibility for developing and preserving the Laws of the Game.

FIFA joined in 1913, completing the current board of The IFAB and representing nowadays the 207 national associations that exist worldwide.