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Yellow, blue, red: This triad could be the color theory for penalty cards in football in the future. The regulators discuss the revolutionary idea. Prominent criticism is already loud, and the first decision will be made in Glasgow on Saturday.
But what exactly is the function of a blue card in football? When could it be used? What experience with the Blue Card is there in other sports? Transfermarkt provides an overview of the most important questions and answers.
The blue card in football briefly explained
“Turn it off.” The expression for a self-imposed time-out could soon take on a different, unpleasant meaning in football. With the idea of introducing a blue card as a sign of a time penalty imposed by the referee, the rules keepers have once again initiated a discussion with potential for excitement after the constant debates about the interpretation of handball or video referees. The British newspaper “The Telegraph” had previously reported that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) had approved the test introduction of the new blue card (background). But what is behind the latest control plans?
What function should the blue card have in football?
The idea of a time penalty is not new. In amateur football, a ten-minute compulsory break before the introduction of the yellow-red card was common practice. The punishment, known in English as “Sin Bin” (penalty box), is intended to impose a time penalty on players if, for example, they have prevented a clear chance to score with a less serious foul or verbally attack officials. The blue card would be an intermediate level between the yellow and red cards. Two blue cards for the same player should result in a red card, just as a blue and a yellow card would result in a permanent expulsion.
Who decides on the introduction of the Blue Card?
Like all rules issues, this groundbreaking change will be decided by the International Football Association Board. The rather anachronistic committee consists of a representative from each of the football associations from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland – a homage to the British roots of the sport. In addition, four representatives of the world association FIFA sit on the IFAB. Decisions can only be made by a majority, which means that FIFA has the option of blocking them. As a rule, the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, is present in all decisions.
What is the schedule with the Blue Card?
On Saturday morning, IFAB members will meet at the Cameron House Hotel in Loch Lomond, a five-star hotel north-west of Glasgow, for their annual general meeting. The introduction has not yet been decided. As is usual with significant changes, a test phase that usually lasts one year is initially agreed upon. The practical suitability is then tested in certain competitions – often among young people. This time, the English association has apparently offered its cup competitions for this test run in exchange for the blue card. The Blue Card will by no means be officially and bindingly introduced before 2025.
Where is the Blue Card already used?
There has been a blue card in handball since 2016. This is shown in order to make it immediately clear to everyone involved after a red card whether an additional report will follow, which will then result in a decision by the disciplinary committee.
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Blue card in football? This is how coaches and referees react
DFB referee boss Lutz-Michael Fröhlich has shown himself open to the test phase of a blue card for time penalties in football. “I myself had experience with time penalties in the league in the past, when it was still possible in Germany. I can certainly classify that as positive,” said the managing director of sports and communications at DFB Schiri GmbH. “The advantage is that you have an intermediate tool between expulsion and a yellow card, especially in the area of unsportsmanlike behavior and fouls that cannot be classified 100%,” said Fröhlich. It could definitely help calm things down, for example when packs are forming. An open question for him is the specific design. “Because then you might need additional people and a penalty box like in ice hockey. I think that’s a little more difficult organizationally, including how the audience reacts.”
Bundesliga coach Pellegrino Matarazzo from TSG Hoffenheim would welcome a blue card in professional football: “I actually think it would be good to have a certain amount of flexibility. A yellow-red card is very hard and often decisive in the game. Even being banned afterwards is a harsh punishment. (…) At the moment I have a rather good feeling about it. I would welcome it and will pursue it.”
Fürth’s coach Alexander Zorniger, however, joked about the possible introduction of a blue card: “Then in the meantime a referee has to carry around a Gucci bag so that he can store all the cards.” There was also ridicule from Liverpool coach Klopp. “I would keep things as simple as possible,” said the 56-year-old. “It doesn’t sound like a fantastic idea at first. But I also can’t remember IFAB’s last fantastic idea – and I’m already 56 years old.”
Chelsea coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed himself more diplomatically: “At the moment we don’t have much information about it. But I think that this will trigger even more discussions and become even more complicated for the referees, players and fans. It’s not a good idea at the moment, but we’ll see what happens when we get a chance to see how it works.”
TM community discusses blue cards in football
The possible rule revolution in football has also been discussed a lot in the TM community since Thursday. “It’s slowly becoming ridiculous, football is becoming more and more commercial and people are still discussing how great it all is. Does something have to keep changing until no one knows what it is anymore?” wrote the user “teutonicstorm”, for example. User “amateurligen” attests: “So in the Bavarian amateur area (up to the state league, i.e. 6th league) there are no blue cards, but there are time penalties. These are accepted here and work. Heated games can be calmed down with this. It usually works.” User “BillyReina1972” says: “You could also handle it like in handball! Blue card for assault. Everything else then remains as usual. Time penalties sound interesting – but will it be of any use?”
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