FIFA Responds to IFAB’s Decision to Introduce the Blue Card

FIFA, the global governing body of football, has declined the suggestion to introduce a Blue Card for players who display cynical behavior or demonstrate disrespect towards match officials during football matches.

FIFA has described the innovation as incorrect and premature, however, it requested that the Blue Card be introduced at the grassroots level of football. This will be the first time since the introduction of the classic yellow and red cards at the 1970 World Cup that a new card would be used in football.

The statement read this;

FIFA wishes to clarify that reports of the so-called ‘blue card’ at elite levels of football are incorrect and premature.
Any such trials, if implemented, should be limited to testing in a responsible manner at lower levels, a position that FIFA intends to reiterate when this agenda item is discussed at the IFAB AGM on 2 March.”

The idea of the Blue card is to allow referees to punish players who show any form of dissent and those who intend to stop promising attacks and will see a player suspended for 10 minutes.