Postecoglou challenges the introduction of blue cards, citing concerns over its potential impact on football’s integrity and dynamics.
Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou strongly opposes the proposed introduction of blue cards and sin-bins in football, arguing that such measures could have a detrimental effect on the sport.
Ifab, the body responsible for football’s laws, had plans to introduce four trials, including the use of blue cards, but discussions with Fifa led to delays in their implementation.
Postecoglou expressed concerns that introducing new disciplinary measures could disrupt the flow of the game and encourage time-wasting tactics. Under the plans, players would get blue cards for dissent and tactical fouls and spend 10 minutes off the pitch.
Postecoglou believes that the current rules, including yellow and red cards, adequately address player discipline issues. He emphasized the importance of enforcing existing regulations rather than introducing additional ones that could complicate the sport further.
“Adding another [card] one. What is that going to do? The remedy is already there,” said Postecoglou. “If it’s not being enforced to the level people are satisfied, do that. That’s the change. One team being down to 10 men for 10 minutes, you know what that is going to do to our game? It’s going to destroy it.
“You’ll have one team sitting there trying to waste time for 10 minutes waiting for someone to come back on. Every other game is trying to speed up and declutter, all we are trying to do is go the other way for some bizarre reason.”
Other Premier League managers, including Jurgen Klopp of Liverpool and Eddie Howe of Newcastle, share Postecoglou’s skepticism about the proposed changes, expressing doubts about their effectiveness and potential negative consequences.
“It doesn’t sound like a fantastic idea in the first moment. But actually, I can’t remember when the last fantastic idea came from these guys [Ifab] – if they ever had one,” Klopp said.
Eddie Howe, added: “I’m not a big fan, to be honest. I think that’s what yellow cards are for. I think the current system works well, it’s just got to be applied right.
“Adding a blue card would just add more confusion, in my opinion. I’m against it. I think [sin-bins] would change it a lot, but again not, for me, in a good way because I think it will make it very bitty, more stop-start.”
The urgency to introduce new rules puzzled Postecoglou, who questioned the necessity for such changes. He highlighted the effectiveness of the game’s current structure and expressed skepticism about how different-colored cards would improve player behavior or match dynamics.
“I struggle to understand why there is this urgency all of a sudden to bring in new things. I don’t know if there’s much wrong with the game as I see it and why a different colour card will make any difference.”
The debate surrounding the potential changes underscores the complexities of modifying long-standing football regulations and the need for careful consideration before implementing new measures.
Fifa responded to media speculation about the proposed trials, urging caution and emphasizing the need for further discussion before finalizing any decisions. The use of sin-bins, initially employed at grassroots levels for dissent, may be expanded to address cynical fouls, with discussions expected to continue at Ifab’s annual meeting.
The decision to delay detailed announcements until after the meeting reflects the importance of thoughtful deliberation and consensus-building among football’s governing bodies.
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