Gordyola
Well-Known Member
The history of this is, GKs weren't allowed short sleeves shirts so that an hand scooping the ball away could be distinguished as the GK. The criteria was dropped when the large GK gloves became common as these allowed the ref to be certain who's hand it is.Was always in the laws as it was one of those "What can goalkeepers not do that all other players on the pitch can do?" quiz questions.
Seemed that keepers were allowed to wear them around 1994 (US World Cup) and then others followed and it's now ignored or even taken from the laws.
Was always about aiding the ref to make decisions about handball in the area.
It definitely was a law, 100%