IM Jack Rudd wrote:I'm not sure that:
The FIDE Tournament Rules: C.06.15.b wrote:
(b) All the participants should be dressed in a suitable manner.
...really counts as a dress code.
Yes thats the rule. Theres is no doubt it is a code but the word suitable requires interpretation by the Event Managers and Senior Arbiters. The clue might be in the first 4 letters of suitable.
Many FIDE rules are written in this sloppy way. As you know I believe more detailed rules and dress codes are preferable to avoid disputes. The European Chess Union have produced more detailed rules which bar T-shirts for those presenting prizes, while other tournaments write their own code.
The ECF would be well advised to follow the ECU or specify their own code at this level. Following social norms those presenting prizes should not dress in a way which draws attention away from those receiving the prizes and so a suit or jacket would fill this purpose completely as is now specified in the ECU code.
Roger de Coverly wrote:You don't perhaps think that an unenforced dress code is de facto defunct. I'm not even sure what the code says, but even if the norm seeker was a political opponent of the FIDE President or his cronies, you would not expect a norm to be denied because of the wrong type of t-shirt.
Players are normally permitted to wear T-shirts. The new ECU code allows this, its only the prize presenters who cant. When I read this I found I agreed with it after thinking about it.
I guess players wearing distracting T-shirts with or without slogans might be annoying other players so should expect disqualification under the normal rules.
I dont believe the code is defunct as you suggest; it's just that the Managers at the British have not previously needed to enforce it.