Liverpool FC
fromESPN.com
2 days agoSoccer's incredible shrinking shinpads could be a big problem
The trend of using smaller shin pads in football may lead to serious injuries and a reevaluation of player safety equipment.
Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe was forced to withdraw one of his key players against Brentford, with a modern trend blamed for the setback. The Magpies travelled to the Gtech Community Stadium on Sunday afternoon looking to make amends for a shock 3-1 defeat to strugglers West Ham United in their previous Premier League outing. Their trip, however, got off to a difficult start when one of their key midfielders was withdrawn after just 24 minutes.
The simple answer is that players can choose what size shin pads they want to wear. The International Football Association Board (Ifab), responsible for the laws of the game, say that shin pads are a mandatory piece of equipment players must wear while playing. Law 4.2 states that shin pads must: Be made of a suitable material Be of an appropriate size to provide reasonable protection and be covered by the socks And players are responsible for the size and suitability of their shin pads