Football to introduce blue cards in biggest refereeing change for years

A new blue card is set to be introduced in professional football as part of trials for sin-bins.

Since the 1970 World Cup, football has used yellow and red cards but it has now been reported that a new card could be introduced to the game.

According to The Telegraph, the International Football Association Board has signed off on the introduction of a blue card, which will be part of a trial for sin-bins.

The new protocol will see players removed from the field for 10 minutes if they commit a cynical foul or show dissent towards an official.

The new card is set to be limited for fouls committed during a promising attack plus dissent.

If a player receives two blue cards or a combination of yellow and blue, they could end up being shown a red card.

It has been reported that the new protocol will be announced on Friday.

The report from the Telegraph states: “Top-tier competitions will be excluded from initial testing in the professional game in case the protocols require further refinement, but elite trials could still begin as soon as the summer.

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

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UEFA president Aleksandr Ceferin told the Telegraph that he was opposed to sin-bins, he said: “It’s not football anymore. We will not use them in Uefa competition.

“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.”