Adelaide soccer players to remove bras containing GPS units

[RAP300]

AN “OVERZEALOUS” male referee asked two female soccer players to remove a device that was attached to their bras, meaning they had to strip on the pitch, witnesses say.


The young Adelaide-based players were wearing approved GPS devices to track their performance. Many elite athletes, including the Matildas and AFL and A-League players, wear the devices, right, while playing.

Several witnesses told The Advertiser that the referee spotted the bulge on a player’s back during the Women’s National Premier League game and asked her to remove it, so she removed her top and a sports bra that held the device. Another player did the same while a third managed to remove the GPS out without taking off her top. Football Federation South Australia has deniedthat any of this occurred. The team comprises players in their teens and early twenties.

TheAdvertiser has been told the referee wanted the devices removed because he feared they could cause a safety issue. FFSA State Manager of Referees Stephen Toth spoke to the referee after receiving a complaint. He said the referee acted “appropriately and in accordance with the laws of the game and FFSA expectations”.

“As such no further action will be taken against him,” he said. “Our inquiries with the match referee have indicated that at no stage did he request or direct players to remove the devices or any clothing in order to remedy the issue.”

The Advertiser has obtained a complaint made to FFSA about the incident
“I was embarrassed today for the players because the male referee asked several of the ... players to remove their GPS monitors from a sports bra that allows the GPS matchbox to sit between their shoulder blades by a thoughtless, overzealous and ill-informed referee,” the complaint states.

“This occurred early in the second half, with two players needing to remove their tops to remove the sports bra that was holding the GPS in it. A very poor example of consideration for the players’ privacy or decency.

“I would like an apology to the club and players involved and reassurance the FFSA will ensure the ill-informed like this gentleman are informed that we and the players are within our rights to wear GPS devices,” the complaint states.

Most players wear the devices in each game. The GPS data is used to measure how fast and far players are running during a game. It can track how much they walk, jog, run or sprint and that information is used in their training.

The Advertiser revealed this year that even at the top levels, FFSA-accredited referees have said they are disgruntled because of a lack of due process, coaching, development and mentoring. Former top referee Donald Campbell said the standard was “abysmal”.

[jimmy2014]

Kevin Hologram strikes again?

[M@rvin]

So if they are approved devices worn by A-league, Matildas and Socceroos players. How are they a safety issue?
Are there different rules for the lower leagues?
Any Ref's like to comment?

[juniorsupporter]

Saw a player wear one Friday night without any issues...

[God is an Englishman]

So they were forced to remove their tops on the pitch?

Was there any changing facilities?
Another player managed to remove hers without removing her shirt.

Maybe the players concerned should have consulted the laws of the game before getting dressed.

Beat up over nothing.

The laws of the game say nothing about GPS equipment, they say that anything that is dangerous to himself or another player must not be worn.

Sounds like the ref got it completely right.

[jimmy2014]

The FFSA website documents and resources area has a memo called " Law 4- Players Equipment", which states:

GPS Units & Heart Rate Monitors
A number of clubs have made enquiries in relation to players wearing GPS Units or devices that track player movement and other fitness data such as Heart Rate Monitors.
These devices are prohibited under the Laws of the Game as they do not form part of Player’s
Equipment. If players are found to be wearing such devices, they will be directed to remove it by the
Match Referee.
This directive is in line with National Policy issued by Football Federation Australia.
Referees in FFSA Competitions will be enforcing the above interpretations in regards to Player’s
Equipment.

[Cantona69]

The FFSA website documents and resources area has a memo called " Law 4- Players Equipment", which states:

GPS Units & Heart Rate Monitors
A number of clubs have made enquiries in relation to players wearing GPS Units or devices that track player movement and other fitness data such as Heart Rate Monitors.
These devices are prohibited under the Laws of the Game as they do not form part of Player’s
Equipment. If players are found to be wearing such devices, they will be directed to remove it by the
Match Referee.
This directive is in line with National Policy issued by Football Federation Australia.
Referees in FFSA Competitions will be enforcing the above interpretations in regards to Player’s
Equipment.

Maybe the FFSA need to review their policies, because clearly GPS devices are allowed to be used under FIFA Laws, as the players in the Aus v Greece game were wearing them and the referee had no issue with it.

[God is an Englishman]

The FFSA website documents and resources area has a memo called " Law 4- Players Equipment", which states:

GPS Units & Heart Rate Monitors
A number of clubs have made enquiries in relation to players wearing GPS Units or devices that track player movement and other fitness data such as Heart Rate Monitors.
These devices are prohibited under the Laws of the Game as they do not form part of Player’s
Equipment. If players are found to be wearing such devices, they will be directed to remove it by the
Match Referee.
This directive is in line with National Policy issued by Football Federation Australia.
Referees in FFSA Competitions will be enforcing the above interpretations in regards to Player’s
Equipment.

Maybe the FFSA need to review their policies, because clearly GPS devices are allowed to be used under FIFA Laws, as the players in the Aus v Greece game were wearing them and the referee had no issue with it.

Can you show me the law that allows it. I posted the law above that can be used to not allow it.

[Raich Carter]

The FFSA website documents and resources area has a memo called " Law 4- Players Equipment", which states:

GPS Units & Heart Rate Monitors
A number of clubs have made enquiries in relation to players wearing GPS Units or devices that track player movement and other fitness data such as Heart Rate Monitors.
These devices are prohibited under the Laws of the Game as they do not form part of Player’s
Equipment. If players are found to be wearing such devices, they will be directed to remove it by the
Match Referee.
This directive is in line with National Policy issued by Football Federation Australia.
Referees in FFSA Competitions will be enforcing the above interpretations in regards to Player’s
Equipment.

Maybe the FFSA need to review their policies, because clearly GPS devices are allowed to be used under FIFA Laws, as the players in the Aus v Greece game were wearing them and the referee had no issue with it.

Can you show me the law that allows it. I posted the law above that can be used to not allow it.

the only thing the FIFA LOG state is

"Where electronic performance and tracking systems (EPTS) are used (subject to
the agreement of the member association/competition organiser concerned):
• they must not pose any danger to the players and/or match officials
• information and data transmitted from the devices/systems is not permitted
to be received or used in the technical area during the match."

So this leaves it up to the member assoc to make the call, so as you stated the FFSA gets to make the call.

[juniorsupporter]

This is clearly an example of a rule that is rarely enforced and is a bit behind the times as many elite players wear GPS devices to track their work rate- Socceroos, Matildas, A-League and W-League players right down to NPL and WNPL players. Try telling Ange Postecoglou or Alan Stajic that their performance departments can't use GPS units with the players. It's a very effective and quantitative way to track player performance and effort and identify areas for improvement.

I think the objection to the removal of the GPS units in this instance had more to do with the players having to remove their playing tops on the pitch than the banning of the units themselves. It was the way the law was enforced, not that it was enforced at all. Although as I said, it is not routinely enforced as GPS units are commonly used in the highest levels of the game and are small and inconspicuous. FIFA is fine with it. Perhaps FFA should be more in step...

[God is an Englishman]

They weren't forced to remove them on the pitch. They could have gone to the changing rooms, they could have removed them without removing their tops like one of the players did.

[juniorsupporter]

Ah- ok. Wasn't there. Just have the (sensationalised) report to go on. Then I wonder what all the fuss is about...another slow news day at the Advertiser no doubt.

[whateva]

the law about GPS changed this year. Players are allowed to wear them as long it is not dangerous to them or any other person.