football
The hot topic of the blue card: That’s what the rules summit is all about
Jürgen Klopp is not a fan of the blue card. photo
© Jens Wolf/dpa-Zentralbild/dpa
Every year at the beginning of March, the rules of world football meet for a crucial meeting. This time it’s also about the topic of time penalties. Heated discussions will follow.
However, the German coach will not be able to stop the decision to start a test phase of the new sanction option in professional football in the form of a time penalty. It is very likely that world football’s rule makers from the International Football Association Board (Ifab) will vote for a trial run in certain competitions at their annual meeting on Saturday (10 a.m.) in Glasgow.
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 for fouls only occurs 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.