Have you ever wondered why some international footballers who are paid in millions, opt to wear socks which have noticeable holes in them? Are the reasons based on superstitions or do they have a scientific basis behind them? Turns out, the reason is pretty simple and basic.
Most players cut these holes in their socks in order to relieve pressure from their calf muscles due to their tight fits. Players who have well developed calves cut through the garment in order to help for better blood circulation in their legs so as to avoid cramps during or after a game or a particularly tough training session.
In recent times, Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham’s socks have been in the news for this particular reason but the trend had started even before that through a certain Welsh international who had a flair for golf during his time at the Bernabeu.
Gareth Bale, who won 5 Champions League with the Los Blancos, used to cut holes over his calves in order to overcome recurring muscle injuries in his legs back in 2016. “He is ready to play and that’s the most important thing. The holes in his socks? That’s something of his,” his then coach Zinedine Zidane had opined.
“Well, the logic behind players cutting their socks is that the ones with large calf muscles find it uncomfortable because the stockings we wear are new and they prove to be tight and restrictive which may also lead to cramps during the game. That is why players cut them from behind so there is effective circulation of blood flow and they feel comfortable,” Jamshedpur FC defender Pratik Chaudhari told The Indian Express.
“Some players also cut their stockings just above the ankle. I do it myself. I prefer to wear anti-slip socks which help my feet stay firm inside the boots. Because our game is about quick movements and turnings so obviously you won’t want to wear socks that slip inside the boots. So that’s the reason why we wear anti-slip socks and cut the stockings above the ankle for the games,” he added.
Curiously, there’s a rule in the La Liga that players wearing ripped socks, shorts and shirts are technically not allowed to play, something that the big wigs of the league have not enforced which allowed Bellingham and Bale to continue with the tradition.
Ultimately at the end of the day, it all comes down to a player’s comfort. For example, Manchester City’s Kyle Walker also plays with deep cuts on his socks.
“The socks were actually too tight so it was causing pressure on my calves. It was just to release my calves – or release the tension. I just cut holes in them and all of a sudden, I had a few alright games, and I was like, ‘Ok, I’m keeping this now!’” he was quoted as saying back in 2018.
Meanwhile, there are also players who opt to just wear their socks a little lower than usual like Italy’s Francesco Totti or England and Man City’s Jack Grealish.
No scientific evidence?
The beIN Sports presenter Richard Keys feels that the trend of cutting holes in the socks is going a tad too far with players anyway using compression socks at the end of the game which are designed to bring firmness to the calf area.
Enough of this nonsense. There’s no need for it. The Spanish have outlawed it (although Bellingham gets away with it). It’s time we did. pic.twitter.com/83rHGXq1fF
— Richard Keys (@richardajkeys) February 17, 2024
“Kyle Walker was one of the first. He went on to make the point quite rightly of course that it makes absolutely not a jot of difference when you think about the fact that they sit in compression socks at the end of the game which bring a firmness to the calf. In Spain they have outlawed it (although Bellingham gets away with it). It’s gone too far. There is no scientific evidence that it aids blood flow to calves at all,” Keys had said recently.
Closer to home, some echoed the feeling. “They (players) started doing it because of huge calves, especially the ones who are physically bigger, mostly foreigners. Now, it’s just caught on as a fad. Had no meaning in terms of performance. Of course, if it’s tight at the calves then yes being restrictive, it affects performance,” an assistant coach of an ISL team said.As the debate rages on about apparels, the bottom-line will always be about what makes a player comfortable while playing the beautiful game.
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