Premier League officials have been giving their reactions to the news that blue cards could be trialled in football from next season.
The historic addition to the referees’ book will be announced on Friday by the International Football Association Board and is the first new card added in more than 50 years.
Players who commit cynical fouls or show disagreement with referees will be sent to a sin-bin for 10 minutes in a rule similar to yellow cards shown in rugby.
Receiving a blue and a yellow, or two blues, will have the same result as two yellows and will result in the players being sent off.
Critics are already furious at the decision to introduce the controversial new rule and Premier League coaches have now had their say.
Football lawmakers will judge players who condemn sin and issue blue cards and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will publish its protocols on Friday.
NEWCASTLE – EDDIE HOWE – VERDICT: BAD IDEA
The Newcastle boss has given his verdict on the proposed new blue card and admitted he doesn’t like the idea, insisting it will only cause more “confusion”.
Howe emphasized his belief that the current red and yellow card system works well enough not to require any additional intervention and believes sin-bins would change the game a lot “but not in a good way.”
Newcastle already have two of the Premier League’s best disciplinarians in their squad: midfielder Bruno Guimaraes has received more yellow cards than any other player this season (9) and Anthony Gordon is just one away. Any new measures could mean more problems for the Magpies.
Discussing the new blue card decision, Howe said on Friday: “To be honest, I’m not a big fan.” I think that’s what yellow cards are for. I think the current system works well, you just have to apply it correctly.
“I think adding a blue card would add more confusion, in my opinion, so I’m against it.”
‘I think sin-bins would change the game a lot. But not in a good way, because I think it will make it very fragmented, more stopping and starting.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe believes new blue card decision will add ‘more confusion’ to football
Newcastle midfielder Bruno Guimaraes leads the Premier League list with the most yellow cards this season
“I’m afraid that for players who would have to come out for 10 minutes and then get back into the rhythm of a Premier League game after 10 minutes, I’m not sure it would work, personally,” he added.
CHELSEA – MAURICIO POCHETTINO – VERDICT: BAD IDEA
The Chelsea manager echoed similar sentiments when he explained that his current feeling is that the blue card is “not a good idea” and laughed at the idea of ​​introducing it.
Mauricio Pochettino insisted the sin-bin ruling would make things “more complicated” and revealed he would give more information about his true feelings in his presentation when the cameras at the press conference “are off”.
‘It’s difficult to express what I feel about the blue card. Hard to explain. At the moment we don’t have much information about it,” he said.
Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino laughed at sin-bin blue card ruling
‘That will create more debate. It’s going to be more complicated. At the moment, my feeling is that it is not a good idea, but we will see what happens. I don’t know the intention of adding this blue card. But surely a lot, a lot.
‘It will be more complicated due to the referee’s interpretation of when to apply the red, yellow or blue. What about the goalkeeper? Do you play without a goalkeeper for 10 minutes or can you change? We will see. Then, when the cameras turn off, I will continue,” Pochettino said.
TOTTENHAM – ANGE POSTECOGLOU – VERDICT: BAD IDEA
Ange Postecoglou is also not in favor of the introduction of the blue card in football and questioned the need to rush to introduce a new element for referees to deal with.
VAR was the latest review of refereeing and the Tottenham manager does not believe that football should try to take away things from other sports such as rugby’s sin-bin.
Tottenham coach Ange Postecoglou described the introduction of the blue card as a “disorder”
‘It’s hard for me to understand why this urgency to suddenly bring new things. I don’t know if there’s much wrong with the game. My problem with the game right now is that VAR has changed football as an experience.
‘I don’t know why a different color card is going to make a difference. I don’t know if this takes away things from other sports. “Other sports are trying to make their games faster, but we create more disorder,” he added.