PRESIDENT Gianni Infantino of FIFA has declared that the global football ruling body does not support the introduction of ‘blue cards’ into the game.
He added that he was unaware of the idea before it became a public affair after the International Football Board proposed the idea that led to widespread condemnation.
According to the proposal from football’s rule making body IFAB, the ‘blue card’ would give referees the power to send players off for 10 minutes for dissent or committing cynical fouls.
It was discussed with FIFA at the IFAB’s Annual General Meeting in Scotland yesterday.
“There will not be any blue cards used at elite level. This is a topic that is non-existent for us,” Infantino told reporters yesterday at the IFAB’s meeting at Loch Lomond in Scotland.
“FIFA is completely opposed to blue cards. 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.’
“We are always open to look at ideas and proposals. But once you look at it, you also have to protect the essence and tradition of the game. There is no blue card.”
Football already has a two-card system, with the yellow card service as a warning and the red card leading to a dismissal.
