ZURICH, Switzerland — Football’s rules-making committee will discuss punishing certain fouls by sending players off the field for set periods – similar to rugby and ice hockey – with referees issuing blue cards.
FIFA said on Thursday that such trials would only take place at lower levels of the sport and that the subject would be discussed early next month at the annual meeting of the International Football Association Council.
“Sin bins” were introduced at all levels of grassroots football during the 2019-20 season in a bid to reduce dissent and increase fair play.
British media reported on Thursday that the use of trash cans could be expanded to include tactical fouls, such as when a player eliminates an opponent to stop a counter-attack.
“Such testing, if implemented, should be limited to responsible testing at lower levels, a position that FIFA intends to reiterate when this agenda item is discussed at of the IFAB (annual general meeting) on March 2,” FIFA said in a statement. a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
