Major rule change could impact Man City as referees handed power to issue brand new card

Redaction Willow Austin with Freddie Pye
Published on 2024-02-09 11:30:00

Manchester City may find themselves affected by new powers given to referees that would enable them to use a brand new on-field punishment.

Premier League players could soon be sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes after committing either a cynical foul or dissent, under groundbreaking new plans being considered by the The International Football Association Board (IFAB).

IFAB is expected to soon release protocols for the introduction of a blue card, with plans to discuss implementing trials of the additional disciplinary power scheduled for next month.

According to information from The Telegraph’s Ben Rumsby, a blue card is set to be introduced in professional football as part of sin-bin trials to be announced on Friday, with players receiving the card removed from the field for 10 minutes if they commit a cynical foul or show dissent towards a match official.

The Telegraph reveals that the new protocol will limit the new blue card to fouls that prevent a promising attack plus dissent, as well as confirming a player should be shown a red card if they receive two blue cards during a match or a combination of yellow and blue.

However, it is clarified that the introduction of blue cards could yet be some way off for the elite level of the game, with ‘top-tier competitions’ excluded from initial testing in the professional game in case the protocols require further refinement.

It is revealed though that elite trials could begin this summer, and may include the FA Cup and Women’s FA Cup, with the Football Association ‘considering volunteering’ next season’s competitions for testing.

The sin-bin is currently in operation at a grassroots level in England, after being introduced by the FA ahead of the 2019/20 season.

English competitions have previously been involved in a number of footballing trials, including the trial of new concussion protocols in 2021, where an additional substitute was made available if a player suffered a head injury on-field.

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