Why Do Footballers Cut Holes In Their Socks?

It’s a question that is being asked more and more often, due to the rapid increase of players following this trend. So, is this a fashion stunt deployed by players, or is there a more plausible scientific reason behind the newfound design?

Why Do Football Players Cut Holes In Their Socks?

The short and simple answer is to maximise the full potential of muscle groups, which can be aided by increasing the blood flow to these areas. This is exactly what ripping holes into their socks does, as players have claimed that the socks are too tight in their calves.

This point is emphasised further as players receive news socks every game, making the tight nature of them a constant challenge for players to tackle. In turn, this has resulted in a wave of players quite literally taking matters into their own hands as they dig out their pair of scissors to rectify the problem.

Physiotherapist Nicki de Leona has served up an explanation as to why players have adopted this idea, by saying it allows them to "maximise blood flow to their muscles and in particular their calves". This will allow players to gain every ounce of performance their body has to offer them, with the physiotherapist going on to say that high performance athletes will try to gain every "little extra advantage" available to them.

Furthermore, Dr Stefaan Vossen explained:

"As the match goes on, footballers' calves will swell as they fill with blood due to exertion. This can cause the socks to feel tight. The last thing players want to do is restrict blood supply in their legs, so over-tight socks could be a real issue. On the other hand, a level of compression can improve performance by reducing muscle fatigue."

Image: Jude Bellingham cutting holes in his socks before the game last night.

— @SQuirante pic.twitter.com/MVBAKyKPbP
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) December 3, 2023

By minimising the amount of cramping and muscle fatigue, it allows players to perform at a higher level for a longer period. The increased oxygen circulation facilitates the conditions for players to feel comfortable on the pitch and therefore aren’t distracted by the cramping and fatigue of muscle groups.

Despite this design not yet being scientifically proven to provide a benefit on the pitch, it hasn’t halted the popularity of the gimmick. Some of the players at the forefront of this trend are Jude Bellingham, Kyle Walker and Bukayo Saka, who are often seen sporting cuts in their socks. However, it was players like Walker who first brought attention to this phenomenon, with Bellingham and Saka popularising the action.

Walker spoke in 2021 about the difficulties of playing with tight socks and why he decides to cut his:

“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 all right games, and I was like, ‘OK, I’m keeping this now’.”

This psychological impact it has upon players does have its benefits, proving that there is more to the trend than just a physical benefit.

Dr Stefaan Vossen goes on to say:

"Footballers have extensive pre-match preparation rituals and whenever they find something that they feel improves their performance they'll want to repeat this."

It shows how even the smallest of changes are monitored by players, with the amount of attention to detail getting more and more impressive by the year.