FIFA have cleared the air on the controversial new card rule that has gotten tongues wagging, MySportDab reports.
On Friday, February 9, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) – a decision-making arm of FIFA – announced the approval of a new card rule that will potentially revolutionize the administration of live football matches by referees.
It has been fifty years since football fans got used to the red and yellow cards before IFAB announced a blue and sin bins will be added to the equation.
The blue cards will be issued to players specifically for cynical fouls and dissent during matches. Players penalized with blue cards will be forced off the game for 10 minutes into sin bins – a secluded spot away from the field of action – before being allowed back into action.
The blue card and the sin bin concept has been largely rejected by football fans, coaches, and pundits who think it another unnecessary ploy to dilute the game and extend the powers of the referee when the latter are still grappling to adapt to VAR.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp blasted IFAB for the move describing the new initiative as a no creative or reasonable idea.
Following the heavy backlash on the football initiative, FIFA have cleared the air that the initiative will not be tested at the elite levels of the game.
The world football’s governing body added the modalities for a possible implementation of the football innovation will be further discussed on March 2, 2024.
“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, a position that FIFA intends to reiterate when this agenda item is discussed at the IFAB AGM on 2 March,” FIFA says.
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, a position that FIFA intends to reiterate when this…
— FIFA Media (@fifamedia) February 8, 2024
Despite the widespread rejection of the initiative, some national Football FAs have volunteered to adopt the sin-bin trials in their lower leagues from next with England among the volunteering FAs.
