By Andrew Warshaw
December 5 – In arguably his most radical idea since becoming UEFA president, Michel Platini is calling for yellow cards to be scrapped, with players instead being sent to a rugby-style sin bin.
Platini believes the culprits should have an immediate disadvantage when rules are flouted instead of cards being accumulated and only kicking in later. In the Champions League, for instance, a one-match ban only takes effect after two bookings.
“I would change the system of cautions, the cards,” Platini said in an interview in Spain. “I would make it like rugby, punishing the offender with 10 or 15 minutes out of the game.
“That way, the benefit goes to the team he is playing against, in the same match, instead of a sanction by cards which is carried out against a third team, the next on the calendar.”
Responsible for the decision to stage the 2020 European Championship finals across the continent as well as being a prime mover in the advent of financial fair play, Platini’s latest suggestion will be viewed with scepticism by many stakeholders.
Only the International FA Board, the game’s lawmakers comprising FIFA and the four British associations, can change established rules but Platini’s comments would certainly find favour among those infuriated by players getting deliberately booked and “taking one for the team” when in danger of conceding a goal or losing.
“It is just an idea,” Platini said. “Now it needs to mature and see if it really is good for the game. It is a proposal to be explored.”
Platini also backs the idea of allowing domestic cup winners to take part in the Champions League instead of UEFA’s flagship competition necessarily being restricted to end-of-season league placings.
“I agree with this proposal, which we have debated many times,” Platini said.
“But when it comes time to vote, countries that don’t want to cede a place for the cup champion are in the majority,” he added, possibly referring to English football where the idea of the FA cup winners being awarded a Champions League place instead of the Premier League’s fourth-place finisher has long been debated but never implemented.
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