The story of the missing U.S. Soccer crests

                                                                                     Photo by ISIphotos.com

If you were watching the U.S. Olympic team play and felt like something was missing, it's because something was.

The U.S. Soccer crest (pictured below) that is emblazoned on every U.S. national team uniform was not on the U.S. Olympic team uniform for the men or the women for their opening matches. The reason? According to a U.S. Soccer official, The International Olympic Committee does not allow national governing bodies to include their crests on their uniforms during the Olympics.

If you have seen other teams with crests, it is because the national federations for those countries have ignored the IOC mandate, and are subject to fines by the IOC.

So no, there wasn't a laundry fiasco and nobody made off with the crests. There's your answer to the missing crests question.

Comments

[Rob C]

Speaking of the crest, how does everyone feel about the USA crest? Generally, I like it, but I think the "flying soccer ball" look in the middle is a little cheesy and outdated. I think if they did away with that, we'd have a very classic and classy crest.

[Christopher Davis]

That was probably why Japan wore their Flag as a crest instead of the JFA badge

[jjf3]

Beautiful. The IOC disallows national crests at what amounts to a national competition, but doesn't disallow corporate logos? Good to see the Nike swoop survived free of charge...

But what about the "purity" of the Olympic "ideal"?

Oh, that's right - I'm not surprised.

[WiscFan]

I agree with Rob, get rid of the "flying soccer ball". You could also get rid of the gold border.

I've always liked the 1950 badge.

[Ryan]

I've never been a big fan of the crest. I've always wished we had an eagle in our crest. The team is starting to become more and more known throughout the country though and people are starting to recognize the crest so it may be best to stick with it.

[briguy]

My US Nats jersey (current home version) is my favorite, but I'd ditch the flying ball as well.

I actually think the kits look quite nice without the crest altogether. Simple and stylish.

[kebzach]

What an outrage! Soccer will never be taken seriously in the US with this happening!

What?

[Reid]

sounds like some pinko commie bull$hit

[cougarclaws]

Ives- you complete me.

[Rudy]

They should have thrown the flag on there Pro Evolution Soccer style!

[bob]

Can we atleast get a simple US flag patched on the jersey? Or just the letters USA printed on the shorts.

[Chris]

I thought we were getting a much needed new one. Too bad.

[Richard]

woohoo!! i was right (was i?) i think i was... check the holden goal helps USA down Japan post and i'm aroundabout 4:30 ... no need to brag lol

[kco]

People want to change the US Crest? Blasphemy! You should be ashamed of yourselves.

[kco]

Serious question follow-up:

How long his this rule been in place?

"The International Olympic Committee does not allow national governing bodies to inclue their crests on their uniforms during the Olympics."

[RK]

I hope the IOC bans national anthems, too! We don't want another Toronto.

[Ted]

The crest was on the bottom of the numbers on the back of the shirt for the men's team, so they are on the uniform. The traditional left nip crest is what is missing.

[4now]

"Beautiful. The IOC disallows national crests at what amounts to a national competition, but doesn't disallow corporate logos? Good to see the Nike swoop survived free of charge...

But what about the "purity" of the Olympic "ideal"?"

Amen, jjf3.

[kallie]

does the uniform have our flag?

[jamesclark]

Another question: McBride was wearing No. 17 on the back, but just No. 7 on the front of the shirt. Did the '1' fall off in the wash? What gives, Ives?

[Brett]

Yes, the 1 fell off. Not sure if it fell off in game or if it had always been off.

[Andrew]

Thank god that was cleared up.

[bassasaurusrex]

@Posted by: Rob C | August 07, 2008 at 09:26 PM

I HATE the crest. It looks like a kids club crest. The flying soccer ball is the worst part by far though. The terrible font for the lettering is up there in the suck factor too.

About the only thing I don't mind is the shield shape but I agree with Ryan that a GD bald eagle should be on that crest seeing as it's out national symbol and all.

Alternatively, they can go back to the 'don't tread' crest with the old school ball with black snake which was badassssss.

[Mingjai]

This would have been a perfect time to use that Nike "Don't Treat" crest with the rattlesnake. Afterall, that isn't the USSF's crest. If you look closely, the other teams using a crest are not using their respective governing bodies' exact crests. If they can do it, the US should do it. IOC rules don't seem to have stopped the US hockey teams.

[Mingjai]

That's "Don't Tread"--sorry--you get the idea.

[dabull]

at least put a flag or 'usa' or some other u.s.a. emblem on the jersey somewhere

[The Lilywhites]

I think a flag would've been nice, or a big f-u to the IOC and just have the crest on there anyways.

Another vote for the old 1950s crest, that was simple and worked well. The typefont and ball must go; if you don't know what the crest stands for without the ball then you shouldn't be here in the first place.

[Jeremy]

They should at least have the US flag on the jerseys. The one thing that I would change with the crest is remove the stars. Stars on a national team crest should only represent the number of World Cups you have won.

[Erik]

I love that "Don't Tread" Snake Crest. If we had that on our shirts, I would buy one in every color!

[Brett]

I really like the crest we used on this kit:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_oSw4NL7oBFk/RocpePdvtoI/AAAAAAAAAB8/dLKvYmF2wB4/s1600-h/dtom.jpg

[Caldwell]

I like these unis. It's a clean, sharp look.

[Curtis Spiteri]

yeah, I noticed the USWNT also had the badge missing.

It seems most countries so far have either their respective flag or country's Olympic badge instead of their traditional soccer/football federation badge.

No big deal really.

[Isaac]

Orozco looks like the Camera man is winking at him or something......

[Curtis Spiteri]

Dumb Quote to follow:

"Another vote for the old 1950s crest, that was simple and worked well. The typefont and ball must go; if you don't know what the crest stands for without the ball then you shouldn't be here in the first place." - Mssr. Lillywhites

Okay, I'm on board too Lilly!

Hey Mexico, Romania, Camaroon, Ireland, Egypt, Japan, China, South Africa, Ghana, Colombia, Korea, Poland, etc. etc. etc.!!! Get that soccer/football off your crest and stop being AMERICAN!!!!!

Dumb.

[crew fan]

i dont know about putting the whole "dont tread" up as our badge, it just sounds really juvenille.

a team thats represents our nation is going to take the pitch with a slogan invented by most likely Nike's marketing campaign that contains ebonic slang in reference to the teams we play underestimating us.

can we not?

the current one is fine, theres no need to make it "hip" like the whole "dont tread" bit.

the current one is fine, im sure the players are proud to wear that badge, no matter how 80's it looks.

on a side note, emmanuel ekpo played for nigeria, and neither of those teams looked amazing in their games today.
the dutch have good touch and passing, but it all dies in the final third. Nigeria showed some flashes but nothing that whiffs of a blowout against the U.S.

im confident that the next games are for sure draw-able games, if not 3 pts.

[Jason]

Now someone needs to uncover the case of McBride's missing "1" from the front of his jersey.

[dave]

Because everyone is now part of the New World Order. No more countries, not more traditions, no more national monetary units... no more Constitution, Bill of Rights or Declaration of Independence. We will all succumb to this new order that Bush and Obama have made reference to. No more balls to stand up and say they want the logo and flag because thats why we fight. No, our Olympic committee is just a bunch of wussies and have succumbed to the Chinese. This is outrageous. Dont Tase Me Bro. Dont wear the dearest flag either, otherwise you might get fined. Google INFOWARS for REAL news..

[Joamiq]

Agree that the flying soccer ball is corny. Brett is right on the money - the crest from the red shirt was the best I've ever seen. In related news, that was the best shirt the team has ever had. I wish there were some way to make that the primary official shirt.

[Ted]

@ crew fan

Why does "Don't Tread on Me" = ebonic slang? You do realize that phrase is an important part of American history, right? And that the rattlesnake was an early symbol for the American colonies? And that the phrase appeared on some of the first flags of the US?

http://www.foundingfathers.info/stories/gadsden.html

Read up. Nike didn't exactly make it up.

[Ted]

McBride's numbering situation is explained here:

http://ynt-ussoccer.blogspot.com/2008_08_01_archive.html#2649212851860884132

[clint dempsey]

at first i thought "wow...we are merely subjects to a new world order,with no desire for national distinction" then i thought.."maybe it's a sign of being citizens of the world"(as our next president claims to be) then i saw Nigeria's crest and thought "wow they wear their crest they must love their country why not us? we don't want to make the IOC angry? SHOW SOME SAC,PAY THE STUPID FINE WE ARE THE U.S.A. be proud...like Nigeria

[Luke]

Come on, US Soccer, put the US flag on the jersey instead! How can the decision be anything but a no-brainer?

[fig]

don't tread on me is ebonics slang and is a nike slogan?
not having the us soccer crest or flag on the jersey means we're part of a new world order? even though "usa" is on the socks and the back of the jersey?

god, this team has some of the dumbest fans alive. embarrassing.

[JMR]

I'm a US homer but have to say that the US Olympic soccer team (management, whoever that is)blew it by not having a flag on the uniform. Japan had a flag. Norway had a flag. Don't blame the IOC. We have been going to the Olympics for years and we should have known this. This is tournament about nationality. Pride in one's flag. Yet we don't show ours. Don't let the idiots who blew this blame it on the IOC.

[Mario in SJ]

It seems that the IOC simply wants to say its their show, not the National Associations otherwise the Japanese would not have been able to wear their flag. We can all be sure there is a money reason behind this IOC decision.

[Tim]

Well, I want get too into what I think of our uniforms over the years, but, I'd love to see our crest be the USA emblem that is on the podium when government officials speak, with the US Socer Federation's name some where on it. As far as the jerseys themselves, blue or white for home, red for away, something along the lines of the 1950's style, with the diagonal stripe and collared neck.

[brian]

So they can wear the Nike logo, but not their national crest. What a load of horse s**t.

[BobC]

How about a flag pin? LOL

[TCompton]

I like what Ireland did with the soccer ball on their crest. The US could do something similar, but when stars instead of clovers, and then they could just make each star red, white, and blue.

But the flying ball... it's pretty bad... it makes me think of a U10 team.

[SonicDeathMonkey]

Thank you Ives for clearing this up. Now maybe everyone will shutup about it. Non story people, please move on.

[RK]

I don't like to bash other posters...but crew fan is one of the dumbest yet.

[Felix]

So what you are telling me is that we as the USA are actually respecting the rules of international bodies? wow........

[JRo]

I really like the crest we used on this kit:

http://bp0.blogger.com/_oSw4NL7oBFk/RocpePdvtoI/AAAAAAAAAB8/dLKvYmF2wB4/s1600-h/dtom.jpg

Posted by: Brett | August 08, 2008 at 12:17 AM

Hell yes...put that on the current home shirt and let it become iconic.

[mike]

i believe the poster complaining about the don't tread slogan meant putting a nike 2 word slogan of "Don't Tread" was a bad idea.. i'm sure he is aware (at least i hope so) that the full national slogan was "don't tread on me". i agree with him.. it should not be the nike 2 word slogan.

im canadian and even i know the origins of that slogan and have seen it on old school flags. that would help make a pretty cool crest.. now if only we could get the CSA to change theirs... :(

[Digital Headbutt]

Thank goodness. For a moment, I thought that X the Eliminator had invaded Beijing.

[Matt B]

I also like the Don't Tread ball & snake logo, but without the wordmark, which is redundant (and strikes me as chip-on-shoulder posturing).

The current crest has to be completely trashed. I'll even go so far as to say that no stars should appear *anywhere* if USA doesn't have a WC win to its name. Yes, I'm fully aware that there are stars on the flag.

[Aguinaga]

Anyone know if these rules were in place last Olympics, and if they were followed?

[John R.]

Of all the things I expected to find mentioned in a soccer blog, Infowars is one of the last.

Can Texas secede already? I have to admit a crest based on the Gonzales flag would be cooler than the other side of the pillow.

[Bahns]

Appreciate it if someone could help me on this one, as I've never been able to find the info...

What do the stars on the badge actually represent?

[Ramon M]

1. Leave the ball, but take away the streaks under it.

2. Remove gold trim.

3. Have the letters U & S straight up, not italic

4. Make the upper portion blue back ground instead of red

5. Make the 3 stars solid white

6. Make the blue stripes red.

[SuperTrooper]

The US Crest would look better without the soccer ball, and they should take the stars off as well seeing as we have never won a WC.. . Maybe a complete overhaul would be in the best interest of the US Soocer Federation.

[Dante]

Wait, Kenny Cooper's dad is from England?

[P Lloret]

The reason why nations like the U.S., Japan, and Brazil are not wearing their football association crests are because they are all in the running for the 2016 summer games (Chicago, Tokyo, Rio respectively). So they don't want to PO any Olympic officials and make any waves that could affect voting for the 2016 games. The other countries not in the running could care less (which is why they are ignoring this silly mandate).

[Geoff S.]

In light of recent results lets just keep the jersies crest-less . . .seems to be working out ok!

[Tom]

I echo what others are saying, the crest sorely needs to be redesigned (so does the uniform, but that's another story). The "Don't Tread" crest was pretty darn cool, but I'd settle for an eagle too. Really, I'd just settle for something from this century. And by the way, totally classless on our part to tape the logo. Suck it up and take the fine, everyone else seems to have.

[K]

Get rid of the stars. Stars are for World Cup champions.