Bild: Sabitzer's Socks With 12 Holes Questioned Over Compliance

According to Bild, the 12 holes in Sabitzer's socks have sparked a Bundesliga discussion over whether they comply with regulations.

In Bayern Munich's match against Schalke, the two sides drew 0-0. The 25-year-old Sabitzer had recently joined Bayern and was wearing socks with 12 holes at the time. Germany's Bild said his legs looked like a piece of Swiss cheese.

Socks with holes are not a new phenomenon on football pitches. Some players do this to reduce the pressure caused by tight socks compressing their calf muscles, especially when match intensity increases.

A British expert explained to the Mirror that players' calf muscles can swell during matches due to physical exertion and increased blood flow, making the socks tighter and increasing pressure on the muscles.

Sabitzer himself recently discussed the issue. He performed well in Bayern Munich's 5-1 win over Stuttgart. After the match, Sabitzer told Bild that he did this to ensure the socks would not be too tight, adding that he has very strong calf muscles.

Are Sabitzer's hole-filled socks allowed?

Although this phenomenon is common among players, Bundesliga rules appear to be clear on the matter. According to Appendix Four of the German Football League licensing regulations, particularly the match clothing and equipment guidelines issued on December 5, 2025, Article 42.1 c.3 on clothing and accessories states: "Inner socks and exposed regular socks must not have holes."

Therefore, in theory, the holes in Sabitzer's socks do not comply with current Bundesliga rules. However, having holes in socks does not mean referees will intervene every time. Referee expert Lutz Wagner, 63, explained the issue in an interview with Bild.

Wagner said FIFA and the International Football Association Board have decided that referees must ensure they can clearly distinguish colors. He emphasized that this is the most important factor from a referee's perspective.

Wagner added that if colors cannot be clearly distinguished, or if such identification is no longer guaranteed, referees must intervene because it directly affects their ability to identify the player who committed an offense.

The reason is not only the appearance of the socks themselves, but whether referees can quickly recognize the offending player. If socks or equipment create visual confusion, referees may have difficulty identifying the responsible player, which could result in a booking being given to the wrong player.

Therefore, Sabitzer's hole-filled socks have become a noteworthy case in the Bundesliga, not only because of the large number of holes but also because of the discussion over whether they comply with the rules and whether referees will view them as an offense requiring intervention or simply as a minor detail on the pitch.