Table of Contents
- So, can soccer players wear glasses?
- Which type of glasses can soccer players wear?
- Is it safe to wear contact lenses when playing soccer?
- Do any professional soccer players wear glasses?
- Why did Edgar Davids wear glasses?
- Recap: Can you wear glasses when playing soccer?
Vision is a word used a lot by pundits when talking about the incisive passing ability of a playmaker or the clever runs made by a forward.
Yet the thought of vision, in its most literal sense, isn’t considered as often in soccer. What does a player do if they have issues with their sight?
Here we’ll look at whether soccer players can wear glasses and some of the implications behind doing so.
So, can soccer players wear glasses?
Yes, soccer players are allowed to wear glasses. For those with prescription glasses in their everyday lives, glasses are permitted to be worn on the soccer field.
Although you rarely see glasses being worn at the professional level at all, there have been some instances where this has happened.
Players who need help with their eyesight tend to wear contact lenses because they are less likely to be damaged while playing and may feel more comfortable to some.
There are some rules and restrictions to what type of glasses players can wear and how they must be secured but the guidelines appear to be the same for players and match officials alike.
Which type of glasses can soccer players wear?
The actual type of glasses that are allowed to be worn during a match are set by FIFA and their regulations, but enforcement of these rules will depend entirely on each individual governing body.
In the USA, the rules stipulate that referees and players can wear glasses or goggles assuming they are color-tinted and strapped to their heads.
Their seems to be little regulation in which color the tinted needs to be in, but the most famous instances have seen players have tinted glasses that suit the color of their jersey.
For instance, the FA in England states that spectacles or goggles are permitted so long as they are sufficiently secured to the player’s heads to prevent them from falling off during the game.
It’s ill-advised to wear your everyday glasses when playing soccer. One reason for this is that they are expensive and, because of their flimsier nature than goggles, they are more likely to be broken and therefore need replacing.
Another reason is that they could become a safety hazard for you and others around you. A potentially sharp object containing glass poses risk.
Is it safe to wear contact lenses when playing soccer?
Contact lenses are very safe to wear during soccer matches. In fact, contact lenses are considered a safer and easier alternative to wearing glasses.
The nature of contact sports makes it too easy for glasses to be pulled off or broken during routine play. It’s for this reason that many professionals decide to wear contact lenses instead.
There are numerous professional players that wear contact lenses in today’s game. One of the most famous examples is Manchester United and Spain goalkeeper David de Gea.
De Gea has a condition called myopia, where his vision is blurred in one eye. His contact lenses correct this so he can perform to an incredibly high standard week in, week out.
Contact lenses are very effective at correcting eye issues, meaning you can consider them as a viable alternative to glasses if your eyesight is a big concern of yours while on the field.
Do any professional soccer players wear glasses?
You’ll struggle to find a professional soccer player today who wears glasses on the field today, but one notable player from years gone by to have done so was Dutch midfielder, Edgar Davids.
Davids suffered a glaucoma issue in the late 90s meaning that if he wanted to continue playing professionally with considerably weaker eyesight than he had before, he’d need to always wear his trademark goggles on the field.
If you thought Davids was alone in this curious club, think again. I turn your attention to another Dutchman, funnily enough: Joop van Daele.
The European Cup-winning defender and multiple-time national champion represented his hometown club Feyenoord while wearing glasses.
His name was written into Rotterdam folklore when he scored the winning goal in the Intercontinental Cup and his glasses were subsequently ripped off his head and destroyed by the angry Argentine opponents during the celebrations. The glasses are now in a museum and a song was even inspired in his name!
Why did Edgar Davids wear glasses?
Davids suffered a glaucoma issue in the late 90s meaning that if he wanted to continue playing professionally with considerably weaker eyesight than he had before, he’d need to always wear his trademark goggles on the field.
It all stemmed from an injury he received in 1995, when the player’s head was damaged to the point that his eyesight was severly affected. His optic nerves were impaired irreparably, meaning he had to get extensive treatment.
The Dutchman proved to the world that he could still operate at the very best level despite having to wear these goggles and that they could be worn safely with little risk of injury occurring to him or anybody else on the field.
His professional career spanned over 20 years and he has been lauded as one of the best players of his generation.
Recap: Can you wear glasses when playing soccer?
The answer is yes – soccer players can, in fact, where glasses while playing. It’s uncommon as most players decide to wear contact lenses instead because they are considered more comfortable and less risk-averse, but players have occassionally worn glasses or goggles in the past.
Remember that, if you do plan on wearing glasses while playing, you should firstly evaluate the financial and physical risk involved before doing so. It’s not always cheap to replace prescription glasses, so bear this in mind. Also, the frames of your glasses could be dangerous if the spectacles aren’t properly attached to your face.
However, as Edgar Davids has proved, you shouldn’t let your weakened sight be a hindrance to your dream of playing soccer. Consult your optician and see where your soccer journey can lead.
Check out our equipment articles for more tips on what you can and can’t wear on the soccer field.