SUMMARY
- The blue card was introduced to make the game more interesting and fair.
- If a player is shown a blue card, they have to leave the pitch for 10 minutes and stay in a designated sin-bin.
The Blue Card rule has taken the soccer world by storm. The new rule targets to reduce dissent and cynical fouls in the game. The card also would try to curb time-wasting in soccer and make the game more interesting. The referee could show a player the blue card, which means they would be forced to leave the soccer pitch for 10 minutes in designated ‘sin-bins.’
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However, the new rule hasn’t been met with encouraging comments from the soccer world. In addition to this, the IFAB is planning to introduce a very complicated rule for the goalkeepers, that could complicate the position.
IFAB mandates a new rule for goalkeepers who receive a blue card
The blue card rule aims to curb tactical fouls in soccer. However, initially, no clarifications were made for the position of goalkeeper. However, a The Telegraph article revealed that the goalkeepers aren’t exempted from the rule. The goalkeepers would face the same punishment as the outfield players if they violate the rules. However, the IFAB has introduced an interesting complication to the rule exclusively for goalkeepers.
🚨 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Blue cards will be introduced in football for sin-bins.
A player will receive a blue card for cynical fouls or dissent and he will be removed from the pitch for 10 minutes.
🗞️ @TeleFootball pic.twitter.com/TnSeE3frac
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) February 8, 2024
According to the new rule, the team would have ways to replace a goalkeeper who has been shown a blue card. Either the team could place an outfield player in the goalpost, or they could make a permanent substitution. The duration for the goalkeepers’ expulsion would be 10 minutes just like the outfield players.
Goalkeepers have a bad reputation for wasting time when their team is having a favorable result. However, IFAB is planning not to introduce the card for the managers during the proposed pilot. While the IFAB is excited by the blue card’s results at the grassroots level, the soccer world still isn’t quite sold on the idea.
Soccer Fraternity reacts to the new blue card rule
The Premier League managers looked more than confused regarding the card. They dodged making controversial assessments of the rule as they are reportedly still unaware of its repercussions. The managers expressed their different views in their respective press conferences. This included some of the biggest names in the sport who didn’t shy away from making their voices heard.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino looked confused with the new rule. The Chelsea manager found it difficult to express his views on the blue card as the Argentine has little information about the proposed rule change. Pep Guardiola from Manchester City is reportedly not concerned about the idea and wants to wait until the proposal becomes official.
The most scornful criticism of the card came from Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp. The Liverpool manager thinks that the card creates more chances of failure in the sport. The German manager also believed that the blue card would complicate the sport and open new avenues for fights and debates. Ange Postecglou struggled to understand the proposed rule as the Tottenham Hotspur manager does not understand the need for a new card in soccer.