Five Premier League players most likely to receive first blue card

There are five star players who are the top candidates to receive the first blue card in Premier League history.

Referees have had the power to brandish red and yellow cards since the 1970 World Cup, but now it looks like they will get a new colour.

According to The Telegraph, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved the introduction of a blue card, which will be part of a trial for sin-bins.

The new protocol will see any player who commits a cynical foul or shows dissent towards an official issued with a blue card and removed from the field for 10 minutes.

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

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."

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

In 2019, the Football Association introduced sin-bins in grassroots football up to Step 5 of the National League System and Tier 3 and below in women’s football.

It appears there are five Premier League players who are most likely to fall foul of the new rules, should they be introduced in England's top tier.

Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher has committed 50 fouls in the Premier League this season, 14 more than teammate Moises Caicedo who has committed the second most (36).

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Wolves midfielder Joao Gomes and Tottenham attacker Dejan Kulusevski have both committed 36 fouls each, while Everton's Abdoulaye Doucoure rounds out the top five with 34 offences.

As reported by the Daily Mail, up until November 21 there had been 88 bookings for dissent in the Premier League in 2023/24.

Fulham had been shown the most with 11 yellow cards for dissent in their opening 12 league games, while Newcastle and Tottenham were close behind on eight apiece.

West Ham and Wolves made up the top five with seven each.

Topics: Premier League, UEFA, Football

Alex Brotherton

Alex Brotherton is a Sports Trends Writer at SPORTbible. He has previously worked with publications including the Manchester Evening News, GOAL and BBC Sport. He is a football fanatic, but also dabbles in tennis and American football. He enjoys running, cooking and watching non-league football.

@alex_brotherton