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[Griff]

Following an incident in which a foil punctured the FIE transparent visor mask, the FIE has removed their required use at FIE competitions.

The International Fencing Federation (FIE) announced that the use of the transparent visor masks would no longer be required at foil events pending an investigation into the causes of an accident where a foil broke through the Lexan protective plate during a foil bout at the European Junior Championships.
On November 1st, the Swedish Fencing Federation (www.fencing.se) reported that
the Lexan visor of a fencing mask was penetrated during the men's foil competition at the European Junior Championships in Odense. The fencer was not fatally injured but the incident is considered very serious.

The dirty little secret was that the FIE pushed this piece of crap on the fencing community to increase the watchability of fencing. It is the equivalent of Fox sports glowing puck. Fencing is not a great spectator sport if you lack background, mandating a clear mask so you can watch competitors mutter about directing isn't going to help. TV before safety f'in French MBA's.