ANGE POSTECOGLOU spearheads the Premier League backlash against the controversial blue cards proposed by the International FA Board, claiming they will “destroy football.” The Tottenham manager criticizes the idea of a ten-minute sin bin, while Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp believes it will only provide referees with “more opportunities to fail.”
Sources suggest that IFAB will approve global trials for two sin-bin proposals at a meeting on March 2. One involves sin bins for dissent, and the other for cynical fouls. Postecoglou argues that football is already complicated by VAR, and this rule change will further slow down the game, making it less appealing to fans. He contends that having a team down to ten men for ten minutes will harm the sport, with one team potentially wasting time until the player returns.
Chelsea’s Mauricio Pochettino echoes Postecoglou’s sentiments, deeming blue cards for dissent as another blow to the ‘beautiful game.’ He expresses concerns about the increasing complexity of football rules, especially with the introduction of blue cards.
Liverpool’s Klopp advocates for simplicity in refereeing decisions, suggesting that any new card would only complicate matters further. He emphasizes the difficulty of the referee’s job and believes additional cards would lead to more confusion.
Trials for blue cards are not expected at elite levels, with the FA considering them for semi-professional levels. Players sent to the sin bin in the final ten minutes of a half may not return until the period concludes, even with added time.
Newcastle’s Eddie Howe and West Ham’s David Moyes express reservations about blue cards, with Howe stating that the current yellow card system works well, and Moyes suggesting that football’s rule-makers are tinkering too much. Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta, while cautiously open to the proposals, emphasizes the need for thorough testing before implementation at the highest level.
