From the U.S. Soccer Communications Center -- July 11, 2002

To:   State Referee Administrators
       State Directors of Instruction

US Soccer is still receiving communication from the state associations and leagues telling us that they are hearing from local referee associations and referee groups that "they intend to enforce the ruling on sleeveless jerseys."
Please be advised that in accordance with the position paper sent earlier by US Soccer,  no individual player or team should be kept from playing in a game because their jersey does not have sleeves.
The instruction to the referees in the recent position paper on sleeveless jerseys, was that the only action they should take is note the fact on the game report that a team has sleeveless jerseys - nothing else.  Whatever does or does not happen after they take that action is not the concern of the referee.  We have thousands of teams in the United States playing in sleeveless jerseys and US Soccer is appealing to FIFA on this issue.
Until an understanding is reached between the Secretary General of US Soccer and FIFA, referees should take no action to penalize teams or players for wearing sleeveless jerseys.
It is your obligation as the individuals responsible for the implementation of the National Program for Referee Development within your state, to see that the referees in your state are aware of the position of US Soccer.
Please notify each referee group, district, association, etc. within your state immediately to see that the word reaches all referees.
We will notify you when and if this position changes.
Thank you so much for your anticipated immediate co-operation.