By Andrew Warshaw
February 1 – Football’s lawmakers are to consider introducing sin-bins in place of yellow cards in what would constitute the most radical step for years to the way the game is played.
UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has described the very concept of sinbins as a “joke” but FIFA’s technical director Marco van Basten included the idea in his recent blueprint for change on the field.
Now the International FA Board, comprising FIFA and the four British associations, will look at the proposal as part of the agenda at its annual meeting in London in early March.
“The proposal to allow temporary dismissals (sin bins) for yellow card offences will be considered following tests in UEFA’s development competitions over the last three years,” said an IFAB statement.
Whilst there is no time scale for sinbins, they would only be introduced first at amateur level. IFAB has been quick to clarify that it would consider “temporary dismissals” only in youth, veterans, disability and grassroots football. But it is understood that if experiments are a success, sinbins could be implemented at professional level within a few years in a move that would be bound to split opinion across the sport.
The March meeting is also expected to give the green light to give national football associations “more freedom and responsibility” to modify laws such as the number of substitutions while there will also be an update on whether experiments with video replays, which FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants in place at the 2018 World Cup, are working.
Additionally, says the statement, “particular focus will be given to the role of the captain and how her/his responsibilities could be enhanced as part of a move to improve on-field discipline and create better communication between players and match officials.”
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