<< So, maybe someone wants to clarify this if I have it wrong, but my
understanding is that we are REQUIRED to wear the GOLD shirt unless a
conflict with either team prevents us from doing so. >>
As an instructor, I state it this way:
Bearing in mind the overriding requirements that the entire referee team
match in both color and sleeve length, the gold is the standard uniform for
referees. If either team is wearing a color that conflicts with gold, the
referee team should wear the alternate color that least conflicts with the
other team. If this puts either keeper in conflict with the referee team,
the keeper must change to a non-conflicting jersey.
For World Cup and other international matches, MLS, WUSA, PDL, regional
tournaments (and other Cup play) &c., the organizing body may choose to
determine who is making what fashion statements. (Nota bene: if an
organizing body wants to require any other uniform, they are authorized to
do so, provided they equip the referee team with said alternate uniform, at
the organizing body‘s expense. I once got to wear a red and black Grateful
Dead tie-dye job, with blood-red shorts and socks, but they insisted I give
it all back after the match).
Personally, I see no need for a fourth color. No, I’ll take that back. I
see two possible scenarios.
One is the situation in which one team’s jersey contains enough of both
[select two of: gold, black, and red] that the referee team wearing either
would confuse the players, and the other team is wearing the third color. I
note that adding a fourth color does not resolve conflicting with the second
team’s jerseys containing both colors 3 and 4 (for example, team 1 wearing
gold & black, and team 2 wearing red and blue - I have seen teams wearing
jerseys with both these color schemes).
The second is the situation in which a keeper has no alternate jersey. This
is regrettably much more common. I have taken to asking keepers wearing
yellow to take that jersey home and burn it. They do not realize that, for
the most part, I am serious.
