FIFA issue statement on introduction of blue cards with warning to all fans

FIFA have issued a statement on the introduction of blue cards following on from reports which emerged on Thursday.

The Telegraph claimed that one of the biggest refereeing changes in decade was happening, with blue cards being trialled for cynical fouls and dissent after getting the seal of approval from football's lawmakers IFAB.

The report stated that the tests would first occur at the lower levels of football, with those who are shown a blue card receiving a 10-minute sin-bin.

Two blue cards in the same game would result in a red card and there was immediately plenty of chatter about which teams and players would be affected the most.

But FIFA have moved to clarify that blue cards will not be rolled out across the board just yet and said reports were "premature".

The world governing body also stated that the matter will be discussed further at the IFAB AGM next month.

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A statement read: "FIFA wishes to clarify that reports of the so-called ‘blue card’ at elite levels of football are incorrect and premature.

"Any such trials, if implemented, should be limited to testing in a responsible manner at lower levels, a position that FIFA intends to reiterate when this agenda item is discussed at the IFAB AGM on 2 March."

Implementing blue cards will aim to further clamp down on abuse of officials, as well as provide a heavier punishment for tactical fouls like the infamous challenge from Giorgio Chiellini on Bukayo Saka in the Euro 2020 final.

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Sin-bins are prominent in rugby, with players removed from the field of play for a 10-minute period.

The Football Association are considering volunteering next season’s FA Cup competitions for testing should the first phase of trials be successful.

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has gone on record to say he is not supportive of sin-bins in football.