Us refs are all used to carrying out the traditional jewelry checks
pre-match, with a quick glance at the ears, fingers and - more recently
the eyebrows - of players to see if they're wearing stuff they shouldn't
be. Even wristbands now come under our scrutiny.
After
carrying out the usual checks, I was horrified five minutes into the
game when a home player ran in front of me, revealing two large, chunky
metal studs embedded IN HIS NECK. My God, what next, I thought to
myself, blowing my whistle.
"You're going to have to take those out
player," I said, expecting - and receiving - the usual, "but they don't
come off ref." I bit my lip, forcing myself not to say, "what, does your
head fall off if they come out?" Off he went to the side of the pitch
and I noticed a lot of rustling and the appearance of tape and bandages.
"You can't tape them up, they have to come out," I shouted. Much
harumphing and gnashing of teeth but at the next stoppage ... up goes
the flag and a substitution is made. The metal lover's game is over
after 5 minutes.
The captain makes a plea to allow him to tape the
studs up but it's a non-starter, A wedding ring that will not budge,
I'll make an exception for, but metal studs that could injure an
opponent or himself; that's just plain nuts.
I was apparently the
first referee ever to notice these adornments and the first to make a
fuss.
Well, I just hope the player gets them taken out; he'll probably
enjoy a longer run in the team.
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