Alex Ferguson bans players from wearing snoods

Published Dec. 10, 2010 12:43 p.m. ET

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They are the latest fashion statement to sweep the Premier League but snoods won't be seen at Old Trafford any time soon.

The thick, circular neck-warmers are being increasingly used by players in the England's top league to combat freezing temperatures that have descended on Britain over the last couple of weeks.

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez is arguably the most well-known snood wearer, while teammate Yaya Toure and Arsenal attackers Marouane Chamakh and Samir Nasri have also been seen donning the accessory in recent matches.

Manchester United's players have reportedly been told by manager Alex Ferguson, however, that snoods will not be tolerated at the club.

Daily newspaper The Sun, in its edition on Friday, quoted Ferguson as saying ''real men don't wear things like that,'' and added he had banned the use of the trendy neck-warmer.

United defender Rio Ferdinand backed those claims up by posting on his Twitter account: ''I'm telling u peeps, U won't see a Man Utd player wearing a SNOOD.''

More than an item of clothing to insulate the neck during a cold snap, the snood is seen by some as a fashion accessory for the soft footballer.

England cricketer Graeme Swann, currently starring for his country in the Ashes series in Australia, has also had his say on the snood, claiming old-school English defenders would not have been impressed by the craze.

''I wonder what Norman Hunter and Chopper Harris would've made of the snood being adorned by some prem footballers? Broken leg time!'' Swann posted on Twitter.

Former Leeds defender Hunter and Ron Harris, a tough-tackling ex-Chelsea defender, were widely regarded as the hardmen of English football in the 1960s and '70s.

The snood, a word originally used to describe both hairnets and a distinctive headband worn by unmarried women in Britain centuries ago, may be relatively modern phenomenon in the English game but they aren't new to international football.

Brazil and Barcelona full back Dani Alves wore one during last year's Confederations Cup in South Africa and former Italy goalkeeper Gianluca Pagliuca often sported what looked like a snood when turning out for Serie A teams Inter Milan and Bologna.

Until recently, footballers in Britain keen to stay warm during the winter have more commonly worn gloves. Former Liverpool, Newcastle and England midfielder John Barnes was also criticized for wearing tights during matches in the 1980s and '90s.