The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is set to launch a blue card in professional football, marking a change in officiating rules.
According to The Telegraph, the new measure has been approved as part of sin-bin trials.
Players will receive a blue card and be sent to the sin-bin for ten minutes if they display dissent toward officials or commit a cynical foul.
Initial testing won’t include top-tier competitions, but trials may begin this summer. The FA Cup and Women’s FA Cup are being considered for further testing next season.
The blue card will be employed when a player obstructs a dangerous attack or shows dissent.
Two blue cards in a match or a combination of a blue card and a yellow card will result in a sending off.
IFAB cited an incident during the Euro 2020 final where Giorgio Chiellini pulled Bukayo Saka’s shirt, leading to a ten-minute sin-bin penalty.
UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin opposes sin-bins, stating, “It’s not football anymore.” Therefore, they won’t be introduced in the European Championship or next season’s Champions League.
Amateur and youth football in England and Wales have already seen successful trials, and now the senior game will follow suit.
Interestingly, Portugal has introduced a white card through the National Plan for Ethics in Sport to promote fair play.
