Manuel Neuer is back in goal for the German national team. The Bayern Munich goalkeeper made his comeback in the DFB team’s World Cup opener against Curaçao—and broke a FIFA rule right off the bat.
It’s no secret that a lot is new and different at this World Cup and that some of FIFA’s rules still need to sink in for all the players. This now applies to the Bayern goalkeeper as well.
When Neuer applauded the German fans and gave his TV interviews after his comeback, he was no longer wearing a jersey. Instead, he was wearing a tight-fitting white long-sleeved shirt. And it is precisely this that could get him into a bit of trouble later on.
Neuer: Fallout After Violating a FIFA Rule?
During the match, Neuer wore this long-sleeved shirt under his short goalkeeper jersey. However, FIFA’s equipment regulations specifically prohibit this.
While it is generally permitted to wear a shirt under the jersey, it may only be visible if it is the same dominant color as the other garment, bears no team or manufacturer logos, and does not advertise any sponsors.
Neuer did not meet the first of these three requirements with his choice of color, though it is unclear whether this should not have been noticed during the pre-match inspection.
The only thing that is clear is that, according to information from *kicker*, there may still be repercussions, though the world governing body has so far tended to be lenient with such violations. Possible consequences for the federation could include, for example, minor fines or even just warnings. As for the player himself, no consequences are expected for a first-time violation.
Especially since the entire process takes time, as this matter must first be addressed by the disciplinary committee. For this reason, penalties might not be imposed until after the tournament.