Footballers don't wear bras — the under-shirt device explained

Many football fans have noticed players wearing under-shirt garments that resemble a sports bra. It is not a bra but a piece of technology designed to help players and their clubs develop physically and perform at an optimum level. The vest holds a GPS tracking device that records movement data and feeds it to a software dashboard on a laptop, tablet or smartwatch.

Three-quarters of Premier League clubs use GPS; Liverpool and Manchester United are notable users, and international sides such as Brazil and England also make use of the technology. “People are able to take that data during games and make decisions,” Sean O'Connor said.

“What that allows you to do is build a profile on a player.” Clubs use the GPS data to optimise a player's physical performance and to minimise injury by controlling the level of strain they are placed under. Dedicated sports scientists and coaches analyse the stats to alter training programmes or load to suit each individual’s needs.

England

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