EM-Finale - Why do footballers cut their shins?
New Style, a secret trick or just bad material? Those who saw English footballer Jude Bellingham cutting his shirts at the back during the EURO Final against Spain on Sunday might have noticed three large holes in his socks on both legs, exposing his calf muscles. It's not the first time the Englishman has resorted to scissors himself. And he's not alone.
But what's the point?
A wonder cure is certainly not the cutting of the socks. The Brazilians, for instance, Neymar, used this method during the World Cup 2018 in Russia, but they still didn't make it past the quarterfinals.
Cut Socks to Relieve Cramps
The idea behind cutting the socks is not a superstitious one but a medical one. Football professionals hope for reduced pressure on the calf muscles and, therefore, fewer cramps. Some players also find it more comfortable when their muscles can extend better than with tight socks.
However, the whole thing is quite contradictory: compression socks, for example, which are supposed to reduce the likelihood of cramps, are worn tightly to increase the pressure on the blood vessels.
And so, the medical benefit of cut socks, according to experts, is questionable and may only contribute to comfort and coolness factor.
"In the end, it looks cool for them. If you believe in it, it can have an effect, which sometimes helps more than anything else," explains Veit Senner, sports scientist and professor at the Technical University of Munich, over the football portal fupa.net.
However, it didn't help Jude Bellingham win the EURO title. Besides, one can guess where his cut socks will end up after the games: in the bin. Sustainable it is not.
Despite cutting his socks during the EURO Final against Spain, Jude Bellingham from England couldn't secure the European Football Championship title. After each game, the holes in his socks would likely end up in the bin, contributing to waste rather than sustainability. This unconventional method of alleviating cramps is not exclusive to Bellingham; players from Bundesliga and other leagues, like Neymar from Brazil, have also been seen cutting their socks.
