FOOTBALL is set to see the introduction of BLUE CARDS that will see players sent to the sin-bin temporarily.
Players on the receiving end of the new blue card will have to spend 10 minutes off the pitch before they are re-introduced to the game.
The cards will be dished out to players who are guilty of showing dissent to the officials and could be extended to obvious cynical fouling.
It would replace the yellow card that is currently in place for those offences.
If the rule was to be implemented in the Premier League then this could see a number of players spending vital minutes in the sin-bin.
And with plenty of cards already branded for dissent this season the new rule could spell trouble for some of the Premier League’s biggest stars.
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Bruno Fernandes leads the way this season as the man who has been booked for dissent the most.
The Manchester United captain has seen yellow FOUR times already for acting out to the officials in the league.
That would amount to 40 minutes on the sidelines in total if those bookings were replaced with the proposed sin-bin punishment.
Chelsea star Nicolas Jackson and Fulham man Andreas Perreira also have four booking each this season for showing dissent towards the officials – meaning they too would be watching on from the bench for 40 minutes.
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However players who have been racking up the yellows this season may now take a sigh of relief as the announcement has been delayed, throwing the whole proposition into doubt.
Seven other players have totted up three bookings this term for having a whinge at the referee.
Wolves star Matheus Cunha and Bournemouth keeper Neto would see themselves heavily punished by the blue cards, while Man Utd’s Diogo Dalot has also picked up three bookings for dissent this season.
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus has would also have been sent to the sin-bin three times alongside Enzo Fernandez, Sean Longstaff and Lucas Paqueta.
The proposed introduction of blue cards has been met with widespread backlash.
Former Premier League referee Mark Halsey labelled the idea as “nonsense”.
While Gunners icon Paul Merson has previously gone on record to say that the idea of a sin-bin in football would “kill the game”.
And fellow ex-Arsenal man Mesut Ozil has claimed that Atletico Madrid will be forced to play with hardly any players due to their style of play.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
