The Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has responded to earlier reports that it was going to introduce blue cards.
By Olisa Obi
FIFA has hit out at what it described as ‘incorrect and premature’ reports regarding the immediate use of blue cards in elite football competition.
Reports emerged early in the week that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) had signed off on the trials, with an official announcement due set for today.
This would make it the first time in 54 years that another card would be introduced into football.
It would be the first time since the introduction of the classic yellow and red cards at the 1970 World Cup that a new card would be used in football.
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However, the reports were faced with backlash and following the immediate backlash to the plans, FIFA has now released a statement clarifying their intentions.
The world’s football governing body played down the likelihood of seeing them introduced in elite football any time soon.
“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,” the statement partly read.
The IFAB AGM serves as a crucial platform for discussing and deciding on the laws of the game, and FIFA’s anticipated clarification on the blue card issue will likely set the record straight on its potential future in football.
The concept of a blue card, which has been subject of considerable discussion within the football community, was purported to introduce a new disciplinary measure used as part of a sin-bin trial. Players shown a blue card would have to leave the field for 10 minutes, as part of an effort to crack down on dissent and blatant tactical fouls.
This could potentially affect how players and teams manage conduct during matches.
