From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center - Nov. 8, 2002

 

Memorandum

To:     State Referee Administrators
          State Youth Referee Administrators
          State Directors of Referee Instruction
          State Directors of Referee Assessment
          National Referee Instructors and Trainers
          National Assessors
          National Referees
cc:      State Presidents
          Affiliated Members

From:  Alfred Kleinaitis
           Manager of Referee Development and Education

Subject: Jersey Sleeves Rule Suspended

Date:  November 4, 2002

USSF has been informed by FIFA that it has decided to temporarily set aside the new provision regarding jersey sleeves found in International Board Decision 1 of Law 4.  Accordingly, effective immediately and until further notice:

* Referees will have no responsibility for determining the legality of
jersey sleeves or for enforcing the provision in Law 4 related to jersey
sleeves.
* Referees are directed not to include in their game reports any
information regarding the presence, absence, or altered status of jersey
sleeves unless required to do so by the rules of competition under which a
particular game is being played.
* The only concern a referee has with respect to the condition of a
player's jersey is safety.
* Referees are, however, expected to enforce all relevant provisions
in the Rules of Competition governing a match, meaning, if a state
association, organization, league or tournament has a rule regarding jersey
sleeves, that rule should be enforced.