In a groundbreaking move set to revolutionize the game, football’s lawmakers, IFAB, have announced plans to trial sin-binning players and introduce blue card in the World of Soccer. The decision, revealed on Friday, aims to tackle dissent and cynical fouls head-on.
How does the Blue Card Work in soccer?
Alongside the traditional yellow and red cards, a new addition, the blue card, will see players temporarily removed from the field of play for 10 minutes. However, there’s a twist – players risking further misconduct could find themselves seeing red.
“If a player returns from the sin-bin and receives another blue card, they would also be shown a red card and be permanently dismissed from the game,” IFAB stated.
The move comes after successful implementations at grassroots levels, where sin-bins have already seen a remarkable 38% reduction in dissent across various leagues.
The proposal is expected to extend beyond mere dissent, potentially addressing tactical fouls as well. Mark Bullingham, the FA chief executive, emphasized the frustration of fans witnessing promising attacks being thwarted by cynical fouls.
“The question of whether a yellow card is sufficient for that has led to us looking at whether that should be involved in the protocol as well,” Bullingham explained.
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Premier League and UEFA Ruled Out of Trials
However, not everyone is on board with the idea. The Premier League has already ruled out participation in the initial trials, while UEFA has no plans to introduce sin-bins to this summer’s European Championship or the Champions League.
FIFA, the global governing body, emphasized the need for cautious implementation, stating that any trials should start at lower levels before being considered for elite competitions.
The IFAB is scheduled to discuss sin-bin trials further at its upcoming annual meeting in March, with hopes to explore the topic at higher levels of the game.
This move marks a significant shift in football’s disciplinary landscape, promising to reshape the sport’s future dynamics on and off the pitch.