UEFA Ban Ads & "Provocative Messages" On Boots

In a move that went unnoticed in the world of football, UEFA have banned the use of advertising and "provocative messages" on football boots from the 2021-22 season.

2021-2024 UEFA Equipment Regulations - First-Ever Paragraph About Football Boots

For the first time, the official UEFA Equipment Regulations feature an extra article on football boots - Article 41.

Only manufacturer logos are now allowed

41.01 allows team identifications and manufacturer identifications on football boots, and that in any "number, size, positioning or coloring".

Meanwhile, the second paragraph, 41.02, prohibits commercial advertising of any form other than manufacturer identifications. This means that players can not advertise for brands (personal sponsors) other than the boot manufacturer.

Giroud had miniature ads on his boots in 2014

Players having adverts on their boots did not have been a big problem in the past. However, in early 2021, Neymar and Puma teamed up with Fortnite for some advertising on his cleats. He did only wear them in the Ligue 1 but was intended to do so in the Champions League as well.

In 2014, Sony placed miniature ads on the bottom of Arsenal star Giroud's football boots to showcase the fidelity of their 4K TV's.

UEFA Disallows Provocative Messages On Boots

Article 41.02 UEFA Equipment Regulation also "prohibits any provocative messages that are of a political, ideological, religious or offensive nature". This will certainly not ban players to have general political messages such as 'Black Lives Matter' but is leaves space for UEFA to ban things in the future.

"General" slogans such as Black Lives Matter won't be disallowed certainly

The current UEFA Equipment Regulations are valid from 2021 until 2024.

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