The introduction of a new blue card in professional football, approved by the International Football Association Board, signals a departure from the traditional yellow and red cards in use since the 1970 World Cup.
This blue card, part of sin-bin trials, entails a 10-minute removal from the field for players committing cynical fouls or displaying dissent towards officials.
Primarily applied to fouls during promising attacks or dissent, players accumulating two blue cards or a mix of yellow and blue cards may face a red card.
The announcement of this protocol is slated for Friday, with initial testing excluding top-tier competitions to refine the protocols further.
However, elite competitions, potentially including the FA Cup and Women’s FA Cup, could see trials starting in the summer.
UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin opposes sin-bins, deeming them a deviation from football. He stated in an interview with The Telegraph that UEFA competitions would not incorporate them.
Ceferin expressed confidence in Ifab’s decisions, as it comprises four European members aligned with football’s interests.
Despite potential changes, Ceferin advocated for maintaining the current rules, emphasizing the need to preserve the essence of football.
