Football to introduce blue cards in biggest refereeing change for years

Professional football is set to introduce a new blue card as part of trials for sin-bins, marking a significant departure from the traditional yellow and red cards that have been in use since the 1970 World Cup.

The International Football Association Board has reportedly approved the introduction of the blue card, which will be implemented as part of a trial for sin-bins, as per reports from The Telegraph.

Under the new protocol, players will face a 10-minute removal from the field if they commit a cynical foul or display dissent towards an official.

The blue card will primarily be utilized for fouls committed during promising attacks or instances of dissent.

Players who accumulate two blue cards or a combination of yellow and blue cards may ultimately receive a red card.

Reports indicate that the announcement of the new protocol is scheduled for Friday.

As per The Telegraph’s report, initial testing of the new protocol in the professional game will exclude top-tier competitions. This cautious approach is aimed at allowing further refinement of the protocols. However, trials in elite competitions could commence as early as the summer, even though they will not be part of the initial testing phase.

“That may include in the FA Cup and Women’s FA Cup, with the Football Association considering volunteering next season’s competitions for testing.”

UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin expressed his opposition to sin-bins in an interview with the Telegraph, stating, “It’s not football anymore. We will not use them in UEFA competitions.”

“Ifab has four European members. I don’t think they will do something against the interests of football. And, if they do, then we will deal with it later.”

Ceferin added: “I would leave football as it is.

“I think we don’t need a change of rules. We don’t need to be remembered as important persons that changed football. We don’t need to change football. We are passing through.”