رغوة الحكام

One of the scenes that remains etched in the minds of sports fans is when referees on the green pitch spray white foam on the grass, specifically when there are "fouls" and free kicks, to accurately determine the position of the ball and the distance that players must maintain as a wall. However, after years of use, the phenomenon of the "spray" has gradually disappeared from the fields, leaving many questions and wonders among fans about the reasons for its sudden cessation.

The question remains: Why has the use of "foam spray" stopped in global sports arenas?

Fitness and football coach Captain Mohammed Al-Saleem told "Okaz": "Sports circles in many countries have stopped using the 'white foam spray' in recent years, after FIFA officially adopted the foam in the 2014 World Cup. However, this situation did not last with the foam, and the official stance from FIFA regarding it has not been clear due to issues between the inventors of the foam and FIFA. The news circulating about it in the media revealed that FIFA used the 'spray' without official permission from its inventors, who hold the patent; namely, Pablo Silva and his partner Heini Alemani, who filed a lawsuit regarding their invention and the use of the product in sports fields without their permission. They won the case, and fines were imposed for the use of the 'spray.' The case remains a topic of debate to this day, as some football competitions continue to use the 'spray,' but it may be of a different type and purchased directly," he added: "The white or icy spray helped referees, especially in World Cup matches or important qualifying matches, to successfully carry out their officiating tasks. The spray played a significant and important role in determining the distance of the human wall, accurately marking the ball's position, and reducing friction between players and referees, as it clearly defines their standing positions."

Captain Al-Saleem concluded his remarks by saying: "The spray material is non-toxic and has no environmental harm; the foam disappears and fades shortly after being applied to real and artificial grass or dirt. There are many companies specialized in producing and marketing it, and the can is made entirely of recyclable aluminum. The foam consists, on average, of 20% butane gas, 1% surfactants, 2% other materials, and 77% water. Butane expands when sprayed, resulting in white foam, and once the water evaporates, the foam bubbles burst and dissolve again. After the evaporation of the liquid components, there are no visible residues."