Blue card is being tested though
Infantino rejects the rule revolution
March 2, 2024, 4:22 p.m
“Red card for the blue card”: FIFA boss Gianni Infantino delivers the headline himself. With his word of power, he rejects the introduction of the blue card, which has been planned for months. A lot should still change for the referees. Tests are being carried out, among other things, at the Olympic Games.
Without Gianni Infantino there will be no rules revolution in football. After the FIFA President’s word of power, the International Football Association Board (Ifab) stopped the introduction of the blue card as a signal for time penalties in professional football, which had been planned for several months. As the rules committee announced after its meeting in Glasgow, developments in youth and amateur football should first be monitored before each trial phase in higher leagues. A time frame was not given.
The Ifab actually wanted to vote on a test phase for the blue card, for example in the English Cup. Infantino categorically rejected this. The four FIFA representatives can prevent any decision on rules issues in the Ifab. “There will be no blue card at the top level. The issue does not exist for us,” Infantino told reporters in Glasgow. And added: “If you want a headline, it’s ‘Red card for blue card’.”
Recently there had already been critical voices on the topic. Coach Jürgen Klopp from Liverpool FC feared new debates about controversial decisions after the long discussions about the video referees.
Tests at the Olympics
Infantino did not attend the press conference after the meeting. Interim Secretary General Mattias Grafström sat on the podium for FIFA. The Swede was also appointed as the new chairman of the Ifab board of directors, a further gain in power for the Infantino confidant.
Together with the representatives of the four football associations from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, Grafström announced other rule test runs that can now be started in all competitions below the respective two national top leagues.
The referees are given the opportunity to send both teams into their penalty area to “cool down” after heated situations or pack formations. In difficult situations, only the captains are allowed to speak to the referee at the referee’s signal – otherwise there will be personal penalties, i.e. a minimum of a yellow card.
In the future, goalkeepers will be allowed to hold the ball in their hands for eight seconds before teeing off, but under no circumstances longer. The referees should indicate the expiry of the time limit by visually counting down. During a timed game, possession of the ball passes to the opponent, but no longer in the form of an indirect free kick in the penalty area.
According to Grafström, these rules should be tried out at the Olympic football tournament in Paris this summer. However, these innovations cannot be permanently incorporated into the rules before the summer of 2025. It was not yet known whether the German Football Association would take part in the test runs. These would be possible from the 3rd league downwards.
The test phase for announcing decisions based on video evidence has been extended. These should be tested in further competitions before they may be made mandatory.