Invited to the meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) in Loch Lomond, Scotland, Gianni Infantino wasted no time in pulling out a red card from his suit.
“There will be no blue cards at the elite level of football.
This is a subject that does not exist for us,” said the FIFA president, adding that he was not aware of this project before it was made public.
Responsible for governing the laws of football, the IFAB is proposing from next season the introduction of blue cards allowing referees to expel players temporarily (10 minutes) in the event of an anti-play fault or excessive reaction or agressive.
The measure already exists in other team sports (rugby, handball, basketball, etc.).
In the event of two blue cards or a blue card combined with a yellow card, the player would then be excluded from the match.
“We must protect the essence and tradition of the game”
“Fifa is totally opposed to blue cards,” insisted Infantino as he left the session.
I was not aware of this subject - as president of Fifa.
I think Fifa has a say within the IFAB.
If you want a title, it’s “the red card to the blue card”.
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For the Swiss leader, the idea distorts football.
“We are always open to ideas and proposals,” he continued.
But once we have examined them, we must also protect the essence and tradition of the game. There is no room for the blue card.
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Fifa had already expressed its reluctance a few weeks ago when The Telegraph revealed the project and planned trials in the FA Cup.
“Such tests, if implemented, should be limited to tests carried out responsibly at lower levels,” the body warned, a position that Fifa intends to reiterate when this point of the The agenda will be discussed at the IFAB AGM (annual general meeting) on March 2.
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