IFAB Laws of the Game · Law 4
Law 4: The Players' Equipment
Compulsory equipment, jewellery, shirt colours, head covers and slogans, and how equipment offences are dealt with.
Law 4 practice questions
6 questions on
The Players' Equipment, each with the correct answer and an explanation of the
reasoning. These are drawn from the free question bank.
Question 1
Law 4
intro
Which set lists the compulsory equipment for a player?
A
Shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear
Correct answer
B
Shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks and footwear
C
Shirt, shorts, socks, shinguards, footwear and gloves
D
Shirt, shorts, socks and shinguards
Why
Law 4 lists five compulsory items: a shirt with sleeves, shorts, socks, shinguards and footwear. Shinguards must be made of suitable material and offer reasonable protection.
Question 2
Law 4
standard
A player arrives for the pre-match inspection wearing a wedding ring and offers to cover it with tape. What is the correct response?
A
The ring must be removed — taping it over is not permitted
Correct answer
B
Taping the ring is acceptable provided it is fully covered
C
The ring may be worn if the player accepts responsibility for any injury
D
The ring may be worn as it is a religious or personal item
Why
Law 4 prohibits all jewellery, and states that using tape to cover it is not acceptable. The item must be removed before the player is allowed to play.
Question 3
Law 4
standard
During play the referee notices a player has lost a shinguard. What is the correct procedure?
A
Instruct the player to leave the field to correct the equipment; they re-enter with the referee's permission
Correct answer
B
Stop play immediately and caution the player
C
Allow play to continue and let the player replace it whenever convenient
D
Send the player off until the next substitution opportunity
Why
Law 4: a player whose equipment is incorrect is instructed to leave to correct it. They re-enter only with the referee's permission, which may be given while the ball is in play if the equipment has been checked.
Question 4
Law 4
advanced
A player wears an undershirt beneath a red shirt with red sleeves. What colour must the undershirt sleeves be?
A
The same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve
Correct answer
B
Any colour, provided the whole team matches
C
White, so it contrasts with the outer shirt
D
The same colour as the shorts
Why
Law 4 requires undershirt sleeves to be the same colour as the main colour of the shirt sleeve, and undershorts/tights to be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts or the lowest part of them.
Question 5
Law 4
advanced
A player removes their shirt after scoring, revealing an undershirt with a political slogan. What sanctions apply?
A
Caution for removing the shirt and a further caution for the slogan — resulting in a send-off
Correct answer
B
A single caution covering both acts
C
A caution for removing the shirt only; slogans on undershirts are not sanctioned
D
A direct send-off for the political slogan alone
Why
Law 4 treats these as two separate cautionable offences: removing the shirt over the head during a celebration, and displaying a political, religious or personal slogan. Two cautions in the same match mean a send-off.
Question 6
Law 4
standard
Which of these correctly describes the requirements for a permitted head cover (not a goalkeeper's cap)?
A
Black or the same main colour as the shirt, and not attached to the shirt
Correct answer
B
Any colour, provided it is attached securely to the shirt collar
C
White only, so it is visible to the assistant referee
D
The same colour as the shorts, attached to the shirt
Why
Law 4 permits head covers provided they are black or the same main colour as the shirt, are not attached to the shirt, pose no danger, and have no parts protruding from the surface.