Underpants !!

[NWC 315]

We have captain Grant in his super hero ones, and RM in his black skimpy ones, but it turns out that these players are breaking a football rule and can be sent off as in the Bath youth team in story below!! (Taken from BBC)

You just couldn''t make it up!!

Bath City had five players sent off as an FA Youth Cup tie descended into farce following a row over underpants.

City boss Billy Clark was also dismissed by referee Darren Adie, who ruled players'' underwear breached rules during Newport County''s 6-0 win.

Underwear must be the same colour as the shorts but Bath''s white pants were visible below their black shorts.

"It was all very surreal. I was angry with the officials," said Bath managing director Paul Williams.

"Rules are rules but the officiating wasn''t what it should have been for a youth cup tie.

"Why didn''t the officials check the colours before the start?

Continue reading the main story Every team has to submit a report about the officials to the FA. Let''s just say our is a very long report

Paul Williams

Bath Managing Director

"Every team has to submit a report about the officials to the FA. Let''s just say ours is a very long report."

Defender Billy Cooper was first to be sent off during the first qualifying round tie at Newport.

Manager Clark was then punished for dissent and ordered from the dugout, while Ciaran Rogers, Zemell Burton, Ben Bicknell and goalkeeper Lewis Pierre also saw red.

A statement on Bath''s official website said: "We had been expecting to publish a match report of last night''s FA Youth Cup first qualifying match between Bath Academy and the Newport County Academy.

"Due to the controversial events that took place during the match - and the fact the vast majority of the players in the match are under 18 - we will not do so at this time."

Newport County secretary Mike Everett said he had no complaints about the referee''s performance.

"I understand that the initial problem was regarding incorrect undergarments," he said. "The referee made his decisions. There''s not a lot I can add."

[curly_whirly_tipz 0]

Lol thats quite funny. In that case I am suprised they didnt give Russy a year ban after flashing himself in only underpants live on tv!! ha

[SwindonCanary 457]

It''s a new rule in this year, tights under shorts must match the colour of the shorts.Another strange change of rule was if the ball bursts whilst taking a penalty it should now be re-taken. Bizarrely the rule before, was that it should be a drop kick !

[Power Hamster 0]

Hey!!! Who cares if football clubs are riddled with billions of debt, diving and cheating are reaching epidemic proportions, overpaid players are behaving like spoilt kids, and rampant commercialism is ruining the game????So long as the underpants match the shorts, it''s all ok!!Bah!![:@]

[TIL 1010 5,246]

Four hours since the thread started and no  sign of Kathy or CA yet.[:P]

[Kathy 823]

I think this should be taken down Pete [;)]

[TIL 1010 5,246]

[quote user="Kathy "]I think this should be taken down Pete [;)][/quote]

Are we talking budgie smugglers here laydeeez?[H]

[Yobocop 1,444]

It''s always Been the case that cycling shorts that players wear have to be the same colour, never heard the one about underpants and to be sent off?!?

Sounds as if the bath players took exception to the referee''s ''observations'' and may of been foul and abusive towards the referee hence the send offs!

A sorry state of affairs whatever way you look at it

[Canarino 0]

I think this has been a rule for over a year now, as I had a ref raise it with me when I was an officer at a non-league club and I had to send two players to change before the game started. The team were playing on the equivalent of a cow-field at the time and one or two of the boys couldn''t really see the point, lol.

[ca 1]

Well I think I should personally strip search all the players before they run out onto the pitch to check that all is in order. [:D]

[Things are looking up 0]

The papers reported this as players underpants didn''t match, but in fact it''s the undershorts that were the problem. Little known rule relating to them having to be the same colour, same as tops under jerseys. Referees have been instructed to enforce this ruling from now on, presumably to stop players wearing anything that may be deemed offensive etc.