$70K finev for England by FIFA for wearing unapproved socks

FIFA proves it’s still *the worst* with $70K England fine for wearing unapproved socks

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FIFA also fined Croatia $70K for drinking the wrong kind of water.

By Christian D'Andrea@TrainIsland  Jul 12, 2018, 3:12pm EDT

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Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images

When Russian fans unfurled a neo-Nazi banner during their team’s 3-0 loss to Uruguay at the 2018 World Cup, FIFA hit the country’s soccer federation with a $10,100 fine.

When three England soccer players wore unapproved Trusox ankle socks over a portion of their official Nike-branded kits in Saturday’s 2-0 quarterfinal win over Sweden, FIFA fined the English as well. For a much steeper price of $70,700.

England were officially punished for “breaching media and marketing regulations and the FIFA equipment regulations” after Dele Alli, Raheem Sterling, and Eric Dier wore non-approved, branded support socks in the knockout round victory.

FIFA had previously requested the Football Association to cease the activity that led to the sanction. In particular, several members of the English national team continued to display unauthorised commercial branding on playing equipment items before and during the quarterfinal match between Sweden and England.

The oft-criticized association has done work at the World Cup to remind fans its top priority is branding. England’s violation was FIFA’s third $70K fine of the knockout stage — it had previously slapped penalties on Sweden for a sock violation of their own and Croatia for drinking “non-authorized beverage products,” (read: not officially branded, Coca-Cola produced drinks) during their Round of 16 match against Denmark.

FIFA even went a step further to showcase its lack of compassion when it gave Croatian goalkeeper Daniel Subasic a formal warning for wearing a T-shirt under his kit in the same game commemorating a former teammate who had died in 2008. The governing body ruled he had violated its uniform regulations for the “display of a personal message” when he lifted his jersey after Croatia’s victory.

Croatia also endured a $70,700 fine for endorsing a non-Budweiser beer in the run-up to the tournament.