IFAB drops blue cards for sin-bin trials at higher level

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) decided on Saturday not to introduce a new blue card as part of the bin trials.

Soccer lawmakers announced measures in November to improve player behavior and increase respect for match officials, including temporary dismissals for dissent and specific tactical infractions, and only allowing team captains to speak to the team. 'arbitrator.

In addition, the IFAB also approved trials of “cooling off periods”, whereby if the game gets heated, the two teams could be separated by officials for a period of time before play resumes.

The trial protocol, including the use of a credit card, was due to be announced by the IFAB on February 9, but was abandoned after a huge backlash following a leak the day before. FIFA had intervened to issue a statement saying that stories about the introduction of the blue card were “incorrect and premature”.

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FIFA, world football's governing body, was frustrated that the IFAB planned to make an announcement before its March 2 general meeting.

The IFAB meets in November to discuss any ideas put forward by member associations, possible changes to laws, and decide which ones should move forward or be tested. Although this list is generally approved, it still requires a vote at the AGM, which this year will be held near Loch Lomond in Scotland.

The IFAB is made up of the four British football associations (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland), which each have one vote, and FIFA, representing the other 207 national associations, with four votes. Any change to the laws must receive at least six of the eight votes, meaning that no resolution can be passed without FIFA's agreement; At the same time, FIFA cannot make changes without the support of two of the associations.

The sin bin was introduced to rugby union in 2001, where there has also long been a rule that only the captain can approach the referee, and there are rarely problems with players surrounding the referees.

Yet sin bins are not completely new to football. They have already had successful implementation in the lower levels of football since 2019-20, with players ordered to leave the pitch for 10 minutes if they disrespect an official.

Grassroots football in England, which has a particular problem with referee abuse by players, has used the yellow card to indicate the offense in 31 leagues over the past five seasons.

However, if sin is to move up the levels, the IFAB wanted a different color to be distinct for participants and supporters when a player is asked to leave the field for a short period, and it planned to use blue.

The sin-bin trial, which will initially last 12 months, will include situations in which a player deliberately eliminates an opponent in an offensive situation when a red card is not justified.

One such example is Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini who pulled back England's Bukayo Saka by the scruff of the neck in the Euro 2020 final.

This does, however, mean that fans will not see the trial of sin in top-tier competitions like the Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, Euro 2024 or Copa America. Trying next season will not be allowed at the highest level, and it will be 2026-27 at the earliest before they can move up the ranks.

Indeed, there have been several trials in the lower leagues in recent years in an attempt to combat dissent, such as advancing a free kick 10 yards, which were considered unsuccessful and not recorded in the Laws.

Sources have told ESPN that there is limited support for sin bins among the top leagues, and the Football Association is unlikely to trial them in competitions such as the Women's Super League and the FA Cup.

Only three changes to the laws, applicable as of July 1, have been approved. Deliberate handballs, without intention to play the ball, will be punished with a red card, whereas at present this only applies if a goal or an obvious scoring opportunity has been disallowed. Handballs resulting in penalties will be treated the same as fouls, reducing the number of yellow and red cards for the infraction.

Additionally, it was added into the law that the ball must overhang the center of the point during a penalty kick, which was not previously defined.

The time limit for goalkeepers to hold the ball has been increased from six to eight seconds, otherwise possession will revert to the opposing team.

The IFAB also said additional permanent substitutions for concussion would be enshrined in football laws, but it would be up to organizers of individual competitions to implement this rule.

“In terms of permanent replacements for concussion, the trial that we conducted has effectively been concluded and that is now enshrined in the laws of the game,” Ian Maxwell, CEO of the Scottish Football Association, told reporters.

“It will be up to competitions to determine whether they wish to use permanent substitutions in the event of concussion, as per protocol.”

The protocol allows a team to replace a player suspected of having a head injury without this being taken into account in its allocation of replacements.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report.