Metal studs football boots: are they allowed? The Laws of the Game do not name the stud type, but the referee may refuse dangerous boots, and many clubs and ground operators ban metal studs on artificial pitches. So if you are in any doubt, ask your league or club first.
Below you can read what the rules do and do not say, why football boots have studs at all and which studs to choose. For the full list of soleplate codes, see our guide to football boot soleplates.
Metal studs football boots and the Laws of the Game
Law 4 of the Laws of the Game (the players’ equipment) says that a player must not wear dangerous equipment. Football boots are part of the compulsory equipment. According to the text itself, Law 4 says nothing about the type or material of the studs.
The referee checks the equipment before the match and can have dangerous items removed. If you refuse, or put the item back on, a yellow card follows.
In practice that means the same boots can be fine at one ground and refused at another. The Laws set the principle, and the referee, your league and the ground operator apply it.
Are screw-in metal studs allowed?
That is not fixed in the Laws of the Game. It depends on the referee, your league and the ground operator.
Screw-in metal studs are best kept to natural grass, because they can damage an artificial surface. For artificial pitches, retailers point to boots with AG or TF soleplates.
Metal studs on a 3G pitch: what can you expect?
We found no single national rule that bans metal studs on artificial pitches in every league. Ground operators and clubs do often ban metal studs on 3G and astro, and such rules apply per pitch. So check before you turn up, particularly at a ground you do not know.
The safe choice on artificial pitches is a boot with moulded plastic or rubber studs of the AG or TF type. Our page on wide fit astro turf football boots shows which wide models come in those soleplates, and the best 3G football boots explains how to choose between AG, MG and TF.
Why do football boots have studs?
Studs give grip when you accelerate, brake and turn. The shape depends on the surface. FG studs are for natural grass, AG studs are shorter and often round for artificial pitches, and SG boots have long, often screw-in studs for really soft grass.
On an artificial pitch FG studs can give too much grip when you turn, according to our sources, and the boot wears faster. We found no study that compares injuries per stud type.
When are SG studs the right choice?
SG stands for soft ground. These are boots for properly soft, muddy natural grass pitches, which in Britain tends to mean the wet winter months. Rain alone is not a reason: under the mud the ground can be hard, so the studs do not sink in and press into the sole of your foot.
If you are unsure whether you need SG, FG is the better all-round choice on grass. Check with your league or club before you buy.
Which studs should you choose?
Choose the studs that belong to your surface. For artificial pitches that means AG or TF. If the boots do not fit your foot well, read how football boots should fit. The football boot adviser finds a boot that fits and suits your surface at the same time.
A simple checklist before you buy or play: ask your league or club what its rule is, ask the ground operator if the pitch is artificial, and look at the studs on the boot itself (metal, plastic or rubber). If any of those answers is unclear, choose moulded studs.
If you are not sure what is allowed, ask the referee or your club before you go out for the match, not on the touchline just before kick-off.