Germany played a friendly match against Belgium on Wednesday wearing numbers 1 to 11 after the German FA mistakenly believed FIFA had changed its shirt number rules accordingly.

FIFA said Thursday the Germans have misinterpreted the rule, which was passed in July 2007. The FIFA rule book states that teams playing in qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup - and the tournament itself - should use the numbers 1-18 for its squad. 

Germany was lodging a protest against the rule, after interpreting it to mean that only numbers between one and 11 can be used for the starting lineup and that no names of players can be printed on the back of the shirts.

Speaking before the 2-0 win over Belgium, team manager Oliver Bierhoff said the German FA planned to appeal to FIFA against what it thought was a rule change. 

"It's a throwback to the 1970s, 1980s," Bierhoff told German television before the game. "We lodged a protest before this game but it was rejected.

"Our protests have already been turned down but we'll try again and hope other associations join us," said Bierhoff, adding that any change would harm fans and merchandising.

FIFA restated its regulations on team shirt numbers on Thursday:

"FIFA would like to put right the issue of shirt numbering for World Cup qualifying matches," the governing body said in response to several infuriated German newspaper columns.

"As at the World Cup finals, where players must wear the numbers one to 23, FIFA is also using a consecutive number system for the qualifying games with numbers (for squads) running from one to 18.

"In addition, we would like to point out that starting elevens are not obliged to wear the numbers one to 11."

FIFA said using names on shirts was voluntary for qualifying matches but had to be used at World Cup finals tournaments.

It added that none of the World Cup qualifying rules, introduced in July 2007 applied to friendlies -- meaning Germany were free to number their shirts how they wished from 1-18.

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Thomas Q   |2008-08-22 Actually, as far as I understand it, in friendlies the sides can use any numbers whatsoever, not just 1 through 18. Reply | Quote

Anonymous   |2008-08-22 just too bad that players like Podolski (20), Ribéry(22) or Pirlo (21) will have to change their numbers because of this new idea. think they should change the rule and make it mandatory for every team to always wear the name as well. Better for the merchandise and easier for all of us fans when we play minor teams or teams without the great stars. Reply | Quote

freemo666   |2008-08-22 Having seen some guy score for georgia against wales in the week wearing the number 54 shirt i think standard 1-18 is a good idea in order to avoid awful american football style numbering! Reply | Quote

poly   |2008-08-22 I think the starting 11 for international games should wear 1-11 and the subs 12-18, that's what England do and there is nothing wrong with it and I think it makes international football a bit special, but at world cups numbers 1-23 can be assigned to anyone. Reply | Quote

Anonymous   |2008-08-22 I was kinda puzzled myself when I heard about the supposed no names on shirts, as it's an established part of the game now and very financially rewarding. Personally, I would prefer to see no names on shirts outside of finals tournaments - if a player wants his name on the back of a national team shirt, he should have to earn that ultimate honour by helping his nation qualify - and then getting picked for the finals squad. Reply | Quote

PompeyPete   |2008-08-23 I'd like to see England adopt squad numbers, like most top european nations do...anyone else noticed that Capello is ruining out numbers system? Gerrard number 10? Rooney number 11? Sub GK number 12? small grievance i know but it really gets to me! Reply | Quote

K   |2008-08-23 one of Sepp Blatter's wonderful plans again? Reply | Quote

Ryan   |2008-08-23 Given that usually far more than 7 players are on the bench in international friendlies these days, 1-18 couldn't work. Reply | Quote

Anonymous   |2008-08-23 anelka was 39 for france in euro qualifying Reply | Quote

futball man   |2008-10-11 uro is not world cup moron learn something before you look like an idoit Reply | Quote

Fletch   |2008-08-26 If a player wants to wear number 88 or whatever.. Why shouldn't he ? . . We should be stepping away from stuffy tradition...... Also... I agree with the guy talking about the randomness of the England players numbering......It'd be good for the shirt sales, if players had whatever number they wanted...and always stuck to them.... in american sports like Ice Hockey for instance... if theres a player who wants to wear number 9.. and theres already someone with number 9.. they wear 99..... . . . theres loads of options for numbering... and I think that large squad numbers are cool... so f*ck you... ; ) Reply | Quote

Tom   |2008-08-26 You don't want to wear number 88, and certainly not in Germany I believe there was an Italian goalkeeper who tried it once in italy but got a lot of angry response to it.. Reply | Quote

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