FIFA boss Infantino against time penalty: “Red card for blue card”

Debate at the rules summit

Shortly before the meeting of the rules of world football, FIFA President Gianni Infantino rejected the introduction of a blue card and the associated time penalty. “There will be no blue card at the top level. The issue does not exist for us,” Infantino told reporters in Glasgow. The International Football Association Board (Ifab) will meet there on Saturday (10 a.m.) for its annual general meeting. One of the items on the agenda is the proposal to introduce the new map in a test phase in order to discuss its suitability for professional football.

FIFA has four out of eight votes in the Ifab and therefore has the option to block all proposed rules. The other members are a representative each of the football associations from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Infantino said he had no knowledge of the issue before it was discussed publicly in media reports in recent weeks. “If you want a headline, it’s ‘Red card for blue card’,” said the Swiss.

The idea of ​​the Blue Card had already attracted critical voices. For example, Liverpool’s German coach Jürgen Klopp had expressed massive doubts and feared new referee debates after controversial decisions. In amateur football, time penalties are also common in Germany.

The hot topic of the blue card: That’s what the rules summit is all about

These and a few other rule questions will be discussed by the officials:

Blue card: Time penalties have already been reintroduced in some cases in amateur football. A test season could now be agreed in the English cup competition to check its suitability for professional sport. The blue card should be shown for offenses that lie in the gray area between yellow and red cards. Then it’s time for the sinner to cool down for ten minutes. But twice blue turns into red, meaning a permanent expulsion. The new card would not be used in German football until 2025 at the earliest.

Pack formation: The referees should be better protected. There should be no more pack formations. According to the plan, only the captains will be allowed to approach the referees and speak to them in response to a signal from the referee.

Time game: Some goalkeepers make extreme use of the time they spend with the ball in their hands. In the future, action should be taken more quickly, but not necessarily with an indirect free kick at the site of the offense. The goal: The referee shows the remaining time by counting down. Then it will be clear to everyone how long it can take until the game continues. It is still unclear what punishment will follow.

Handball, penalty and red card: This double punishment only applies to fouls in exceptional cases, such as intentional and rude kicks. In the future, in hand games there should only be yellow cards for penalties, unless the offense was grossly intentional. A penalty is punishment enough, according to the rules officials.

VAR: The test phase for communicating the decisions of the video referee in the stadium is to be extended. Details on this will be announced in Glasgow.

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