FIFA issue statement on blue cards in football as sin-bin trial causes anger and despair

FIFA issue statement on blue cards in football as sin-bin trial causes anger and despair

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Stuart Ballard

By Stuart Ballard


Published: 09/02/2024

- 08:57

Blue cards could be introduced in football with players spending 10 minutes in the technical area before returning to the match.

FIFA have issued a statement to "clarify" that any sin-bin trials featuring a new blue card will not take place at "elite levels of football" after news of the drastic change led to huge backlash.

It was revealed on Thursday that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) are set to trial sin-binning players and introducing blue cards in plans to revolutionise how players are disciplined in games.


While sin-bins have been used in grassroots football for a few years now, players have only been punished for dissent.

It's thought the new blue card could also be issued for cynical fouls as part of the trial.

Blue cards are set to be trialled in football

Blue cards are set to be trialled in football

SKYSPORTS/GETTY

No date has been set for when the trial will start and at what level it will be introduced.

The news caused uproar on social media though with many angry at the thought of sin-bins being introduced at elite level.

But FIFA have confirmed in a statement that the trials will only be done lower down the football pyramid.

The statement read: "FIFA wishes to clarify that reports of the so-called 'blue card' at elite levels of football are incorrect and premature.

"Any such trials, if implemented, should be limited to testing in a responsible manner at lower levels."

England manager Gareth Southgate doesn't appear to be a fan of the idea, insisting the current rules of the game on discipline work just fine.

"I would have said the game has worked quite well for a long time," he said.

"I know, I suppose we always have to modernise with certain things.

"But, yeah, I'd have to really understand how that was going to work before I could give a really strong view.

"If discipline's bad you send players off! That's quite simple really."

Paul Merson was even more frustrated at the thought of sin-bins being introduced to professional football.

Gareth Southgate doesn't see the need for blue cards

Gareth Southgate doesn't see the need for blue cards

GETTY

He said on Sky Sports: "You put someone in the sin bin in football for 10 minutes, you're killing the game.

"You'd get 10 players sitting behind the ball the whole time, it'd be the most boring football ever. It's an absolute waste of time, a waste of time.

"Everybody loves the Premier League, you have a shot at one end and there's a corner up the other end 30 seconds later.

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FIFA insisted the trial won't take place at elite level

FIFA insisted the trial won't take place at elite level

GETTY

"That just goes out the window for this 10 minutes, the team with the man down have got no choice but to sit behind the ball.

"All they'd be doing then for that 10 minutes is taking their time over taking a throw-in, they'll take a goal kick, they'll buy a foul, and it'll just grind out the worst 10 minutes you could imagine.

"You're playing in the biggest league in the world, there's going to be emotions, they get high - that's the way it is. You're playing to win, everybody wants to win. The thing they need to really get rid of is cheating."

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