As part of the 10 Minutes Football Simbin Trials, a new “Blue Card” will be launched.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) will publish detailed protocols on Friday as the football world attempts to curb abusive and cynical foul play towards match officials.
The blue cards will form part of a trial involving a “guilty box” aimed at providing greater protection for referees and could be tested by the Football Association (FA) in next year’s men’s and women’s FA Cup.
Competitor However, they know they will not be playing in the Premier League next season.
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Dissent bins have been set up across amateur and youth football in England and Wales, but referees have been using yellow cards instead of blue cards. IFAB first agreed to testing higher up the football pyramid in November.
IFAB will approve the trial at a higher level in the game at its next annual general meeting on March 2 in Loch Lomond, Scotland.
Other items on the agenda include experimenting with “cooling off” periods after clashes break out between players, punishing time-wasting goalkeepers by awarding corner kicks, and allowing only team captains access to referees.
IFAB is made up of four British associations, each with one vote, and FIFA with four votes.
Any decision will require at least six votes to pass.
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On Thursday, FIFA reiterated that while the issue will be discussed at FIFA’s annual general meeting in March, there are no immediate plans to introduce it into elite football.
“FIFA wishes to clarify that reports of so-called ‘blue cards’ for football’s elite level are incorrect and premature,” FIFA said in a statement.
“Any such trials, if implemented, should be limited to testing in a responsible manner at lower levels, a position FIFA intends to reiterate when this agenda item is discussed at the FIFA Annual General Meeting on 2 March. “
Chiellini’s foul on Saka was used as an example of a tactical foul (LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Sin bins – how do they work in grassroots football?
Adam Leventhal
The FA introduced “sin boxes” at all levels of grassroots football as a punishment for dissent in 2019-20, following a trial in 31 leagues in the previous two seasons. According to the FA, the trials have led to a 38% reduction in dissent across the league, with 72% of players, 77% of managers and 84% of referees wanting the change to continue.
How does it work?
The referee indicated the sin box by showing a yellow card and pointing with both arms to the sidelines.
A player found guilty of dissent will be suspended for 10 minutes in a 90-minute match and 8 minutes in a shorter match.
There are no sins of the flesh; players must go to their team’s technical area or leave the field and watch from the sidelines with other non-playing personnel.
Like a player who leaves the field to receive treatment for an injury, referees can wave players back on the field during a game.
A second temporary withdrawal in a game will result in the offending player being removed from the game for a further 10 minutes, after which they are not allowed to return to the game, but may be substituted if the team has a substitute.
The FA’s grassroots bin guidelines state that goalkeepers are protected by the same laws as other players and can be binned. The guidelines say: “As if the goalkeeper is sent off, any other player must enter the goal but the team must retain 10 players. If during a match, the goalkeeper can become an outfield player upon his return and then resume when play is next stopped. Play as a goalie.”
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(Oli Scarfe/AFP via Getty Images)
