Question:
I noticed that in this season all the American teams in the MLS are wearing the USA flag patch on their sleeves (Toronto wearing the Canadian flag), why aren’t the officials wearing a flag patch on their uniforms? USSF is a patriotic organization, is it not?
USSF answer (April 12, 2009):
The Federation would seem to be damned if it does and damned if it doesn’t. The wearing of the U. S. flag on the uniform is (and always has been) a matter of personal choice. The USSF is a patriotic organization, but does the wearing of the flag actually make one patriotic? Patriotism is a state of mind and being, not a fashion show for the masses.
We can tell you how this plays out in one Eastern state. Shortly after 9-11, US flag patches for the upper arm were distributed and “requested” to be worn. We don’t believe the same thing was done thereafter but, of course, those who had the patch on already continued to wear it. Accordingly, those who are wearing it now most likely haven’t bought a new uniform jersey since 2001 and those who aren’t probably either became a referee or bought a new jersey since then. Those referees who have multiple jerseys probably don’t have the flag patch for all of them, only the primary jersey.
