Blue cards & sin bins will ‘destroy’ football, says Spurs bosson February 9, 2024 at 11:12 pm

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou says the possible introduction of blue cards and sin-bins will “destroy” the game.

Football’s lawmakers Ifab delayed plans to release information about four proposed trials after talks with world governing body Fifa.

Under the plans, players would get blue cards for dissent and tactical fouls and spend 10 minutes off the pitch.

“Adding another [card] one. What is that going to do? The remedy is already there,” said Postecoglou.

“If it’s not being enforced to the level people are satisfied, do that. That’s the change. One team being down to 10 men for 10 minutes, you know what that is going to do to our game? It’s going to destroy it.

“You’ll have one team sitting there trying to waste time for 10 minutes waiting for someone to come back on. Every other game is trying to speed up and declutter, all we are trying to do is go the other way for some bizarre reason.”

If passed into the laws of the game, the introduction of a blue card would mark the biggest single change in managing player discipline since red and yellow cards came into force at the 1970 World Cup.

However, the Australian’s forthright views on the topic were also echoed by Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, with the proposals seemingly getting little traction among Premier League managers.

“It doesn’t sound like a fantastic idea in the first moment. But actually, I can’t remember when the last fantastic idea came from these guys [Ifab] – if they ever had one,” Klopp said.

Meanwhile, Newcastle boss Eddie Howe, added: “I’m not a big fan, to be honest. I think that’s what yellow cards are for. I think the current system works well, it’s just got to be applied right.

“Adding a blue card would just add more confusion, in my opinion. I’m against it. I think [sin-bins] would change it a lot, but again not, for me, in a good way because I think it will make it very bitty, more stop-start.”

Speaking earlier, Postecoglou also questioned the motivation to introduce new rules: “I struggle to understand why there is this urgency all of a sudden to bring in new things. I don’t know if there’s much wrong with the game as I see it and why a different colour card will make any difference.”

Fifa responded to multiple stories on Thursday, some of which raised the potential for the trials to involve elite football, with a public statement urging caution.

It is understood the four trials will remain following further consideration initiated by Fifa, but it has now been decided there will be no confirmation of the precise details until a media conference immediately after Ifab’s annual meeting at Loch Lomond on 2 March to allow for “further exchange”.

Fifa has four of the eight seats at Ifab, with the other four belonging to the home nations.

President Gianni Infantino has previously attended Ifab annual meetings. If he does not attend, another senior official from the organisation will be present.

Sin-bins have been used at grassroots level for dissent but their use could be extended to cynical fouls as part of a trial.

Everything you need to know about your Premier League team banner

BBC Sport banner footer

- Advertisement -

Discover

Sponsor

Latest

Beavers in Cairngorms for first time in 400 yearson December 20, 2023 at 6:20 am

The animals are part of a reintroduction project that could see 15 families released over five years.The animals are part of a reintroduction project...

Cricket World Cup 2023: India’s Shreyas Iyer smashes the biggest six of tournamenton November 2, 2023 at 11:54 am

Watch as Shreyas Iyer smashes the biggest six of the 2023 World Cup so far against Sri Lanka in Mumbai.Watch as Shreyas Iyer smashes...

ICC World Test Championship final: India’s Virat Kohli is trapped lbw by Kyle Jamieson of New Zealandon June 20, 2021 at 10:44 am

Virat Kohli is trapped lbw by Kyle Jamieson as the Indian captain is out for 44 in the ICC World Test Championship final in...

Afghanistan heading for civil war – UK ministeron August 13, 2021 at 7:03 am

The defence secretary says poverty and terrorism are likely to increase as the UK and US withdraw.image sourcePAAfghanistan is "heading towards civil war" as...

Channel migrants: UK and France agree need to step up effort against crossingson November 25, 2021 at 5:23 am

After at least 27 people die in the Channel, Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron say cooperation is needed.The UK and France will keep "all...