The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has reportedly delayed the decision to introduce blue cards as a representation of a sin-bin offense in soccer, following backlash to the plan. The proposed sin-bin system would allow referees to penalize players by sitting out a match for 10 minutes for offenses more serious than a yellow card but less severe than a red card. The IFAB has yet to set a date for the trial, but England's FA has volunteered to experiment with the rule change for the 2024-25 FA Cup and Women's FA Cup. The proposed rule change has sparked debate among experts and has already been tested in England's grassroots game, where it led to a decrease in dissent.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has postponed the introduction of a new blue card as part of trials of sin bins in professional football, with no announcement expected until after the IFAB AGM on March 2. FIFA has distanced itself from the reports of a blue card, stating that any trials should be limited to testing at lower levels. The trial for higher-level football, expected to last at least 12 months, will include situations where a player deliberately takes out an opponent in an attacking situation when a red card isn't warranted. Despite successful implementation in lower levels, limited support for sin bins exists among top leagues, and the blue card won't be seen in top level competitions for several years.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) will trial the use of blue cards for 10-minute sin bins in an effort to combat abuse towards match officials and cynical fouls. The trials, set to be tested in next year’s men’s and women’s FA Cups, aim to provide greater protection to referees. The new protocols will also include trials of ‘cooling-off periods’ after player flare-ups and other measures to address time-wasting and player conduct.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is set to approve the introduction of blue cards as a representation of a 10-minute sin-bin offense in soccer, with England's FA volunteering to trial the rule change in the 2024-25 FA Cup and Women's FA Cup. The blue card would be issued for cynical fouls or dissent, and two blue cards in a match would result in a red card for a player. The sin-bin trial aims to penalize more serious offenses than a yellow card but less severe than a red card, with the goal of reducing dissent on the field.
