Professional football is on the verge of implementing a novel addition to its disciplinary toolkit: the blue card. This initiative, designed to trial sin-bins, marks a significant departure from the conventional yellow and red cards that have been fixtures in the game since the 1970 World Cup.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has purportedly given the green light for the introduction of the blue card, with reports from The Telegraph confirming the decision. Under this new system, players guilty of cynical fouls or dissent towards officials will face a temporary expulsion from the field lasting 10 minutes.
The blue card will primarily come into play for fouls occurring during promising attacks or instances of dissent. Players accumulating two blue cards or a combination of yellow and blue cards may ultimately be shown a red card, leading to a permanent dismissal.
According to reports, the official announcement regarding the implementation of this new protocol is expected on Friday. However, the initial testing phase in professional football will not include top-tier competitions, as per The Telegraph. This cautious approach aims to allow further refinement of the protocols before potential trials in elite competitions, which could commence as early as the summer.
UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin has voiced his opposition to sin-bins in an interview with The Telegraph, arguing that it deviates from the essence of football. He stated, “It’s not football anymore. We will not use them in UEFA competitions.” Ceferin emphasized the influence of European members within IFAB and expressed readiness to address any decisions deemed contrary to football’s interests.
In essence, Ceferin advocates for preserving the sport’s fundamental principles, rejecting the need for rule changes. He believes that football should remain untouched, cautioning against the temptation to alter its essence for the sake of novelty or personal legacies.
