Adidas Predator’s Johnston: “Football Boots must change.”

Adidas Predator designer and former Liverpool FC player Craig Johnston has warned that change is needed in order to reduce the growing spate of foot fractures in professional football.

Johnson believes that it is only a matter of time before a player gets so badly injured that he sues a major football boot brand.

Over the years football boots have evolved from being traditional leather with standardised stud patterns to being more high-tech, lighter and dynamic, containing traction controls and cooling systems as well as anti-roll bars on the soles.

Johnston’s opinion differs to other critics, stating that football boots are almost offering too much protection rather than too little.

“Football Boots are so well designed , the weave of the pitch so tight, and the players so powerful and quick that huge forces are going into the human bone structure.”

The Australian, is of the opinion that current football boots engage too much with the turf with little give, and that football studs are part of the current problem.

He has recently called on FIFA to outlaw certain types of studs, stating that some of the material is especially dangerous, and could lead to serious facial injuries.

“I was in the business of designing football boots with more purchase on the ground, but now football boots need more release because players have evolved into super athletes.”

“Not enough is being done to protect players, I’ve been saying it for many years. I can’t understand the major sportswear firms not taking it more seriously.”

“Forget all the fancy designs, we need to get back to football boots and studs that protect players’ welfare.”