FIFA clarifies reports of ‘blue card’ at elite levels of football

The blue card should prevent dissent PHOTO: E+/simonkr

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has issued clarity on the reports of the trial of the ‘blue card’ at the elite levels.

FIFA, in a statement, said it wishes to clarify that reports of the so-called ‘blue card‘ at the 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,” FIFA said.

The world football governing body added that this is a position it intends to reiterate when this agenda item is discussed at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) on March 2, 2024.

IFAB is the body that determines the Laws of the Game of association football and also agrees standardised standardised laws for international competitions.

According to reports, IFAB is set to introduce a blue card in football as part of sin-bin trials.

With the proposed blue card, players will get timeouts of ten minutes for cynical fouls or dissent towards match officials.

IFAB will also reportedly publish the detailed protocols on Friday as football tries to clamp down on abuse towards match officials and cynical fouls.

The blue cards will form part of the trial involving sin bins, and aims to give greater protection to referees, and could be tested by the Football Association (FA) in next year’s men’s and women’s FA Cups.

According to the Athletic, the blue card will, however, not be introduced in the English Premier League during the 2024/25 season.

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