Footballers’ shin pads – the piece of equipment some pros prefer not to wear
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Custom-made Diadora shin pads made for Roma’s Francesco Totti in 2006, which now appear thoroughly retro by modern standards
“… The International Football Association Board (IFAB) laws of the game state that shin pads must be worn by all players. There are no specific rules regarding size but Law 4 states that they ‘must be made of a suitable material and be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection, and be covered by the socks’. For years, many footballers have been playing fast and loose with their interpretation of the rules. The low socks and micro shin pads trend made cool by the likes of Manchester City’s Jack Grealish and Chelsea’s Lauren James has become vastly popular in recent years. …”
NY Times/The Athletic