Why are footballers allowed to chew gum?
- Published
There is no rule preventing players from chewing gum during football matches.
Though footballers must remove jewellery such as rings and earrings for safety reasons before entering the pitch, the potential choking hazard presented by chewing gum is not deemed enough of a risk for it to be outlawed.
In fact, there is some evidence to suggest chewing gum can provide small benefits to players.
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The first is biological - elite players can cover more than 10 kilometres during matches. That level of exercise can lead to both sweating and a dry mouth, but chewing gum encourages the mouth to produce saliva (which is 99% water), helping to counter dryness.
On a cognitive level, results of a study by Manchester Metropolitan University last year suggest the chewing of gum which includes caffeine during play can boost the reaction times of footballers when matches go to extra time.
In the dugout, notorious gum-chewing managers including Sir Alex Ferguson and Carlo Ancelotti have taken advantage of the widespread belief that chewing can help reduce tension and nerves.
This article is the latest from BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team. The question was sent to us by Paul in Stroud. Thanks, Paul!
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