Football is on the verge of introducing a new rule in the form of Blue Cards, which will have significant implications for players.
Under this proposed rule, any player who receives a Blue Card will be required to spend 10 minutes in a SIN-BIN. This announcement, expected to be made on Friday, marks a major disciplinary change in the sport since the introduction of yellow and red cards in 1970.
The Blue Card will be shown to players who commit cynical fouls or display dissent towards the referee, linesman, or fourth official. Currently, these offenses are punished with a yellow card.
However, the introduction of a 10-minute time-out in the sin bin would serve as a more substantial deterrent. If a player receives two Blue Cards in a single game, they will be sent off, similar to receiving two yellow cards.
This rule change aims to address issues such as tactical fouling and players impeding promising attacks or counters through shirt pulls, as seen in the Euro 2020 final incident involving Giorgio Chiellini and Bukayo Saka.
Six trials featuring blue cards were conducted in minor leagues in Wales this season, but they had to be halted due to lack of permission. Nevertheless, the concept is expected to gain support and be officially discussed at the Ifab annual general meeting on March 2 at Loch Lomond.
If Ifab approves the proposal, professional leagues will have the opportunity to apply as trial guinea pigs for the upcoming season. However, there are currently no plans for the FA to implement any trial schemes in the Premier League, EFL, or FA Cup.
Tony Scholes, the Prem’s chief football officer, said: “We’ve discussed sin bins with Ifab, in the same way we’ve discussed all the potential law change trials.
“I don’t think sin bins will be available to us as a top competition anyway, yet.
“That’s whether or not we wanted to use them.
“But they will not be used by the Premier League next season.”
SunSport understands it could be incorporated into FA competitions including the Trophy and Vase, but will NOT be introduced into the FA Cup.
Neither Euro 2024 nor next season’s Champions League will include sin bins after protestations from Uefa chief, Aleksander Ceferin.
