March 02, (THEWILL) – FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has firmly opposed the International Football Association Board’s (IFAB) proposal to introduce “blue cards” in football, stating that the idea is “non-existent” for the governing body. The proposed blue cards would grant referees the authority to send players off for 10 minutes as a punishment for dissent or committing cynical fouls.
The controversial proposal was discussed with FIFA at the IFAB’s Annual General Meeting in Scotland, where football’s rule-making body convened to deliberate on potential changes to the game. However, Infantino expressed his surprise at the concept, revealing that he was unaware of the topic before it gained public attention.
“FIFA is completely opposed to blue cards,” Infantino emphasised upon arriving at the IFAB’s meeting at Loch Lomond in Scotland. “I was not aware of this topic – as the president of FIFA. I think FIFA has a say in IFAB. If you want a title, ‘it is red card to the blue card.'”
While acknowledging that FIFA remains open to considering new ideas and proposals, Infantino stressed the importance of preserving the essence and tradition of the game. He made it clear that the introduction of blue cards at the elite level is not a viable option for the organisation.
As the debate surrounding the potential implementation of blue cards continues, it remains to be seen whether the IFAB will pursue the proposal further or if FIFA’s strong opposition will effectively put an end to the idea.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
