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Blue cards for keepers would force teams into 'stupid' decision as fans blast 'nobody wants this'

A blue card for goalkeepers under the planned sin-bin law could force teams into making a ridiculous decision – as fans moan ‘nobody wants this’

Wes Foderingham
A blue card for goalkeepers would leave games in chaos(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

A blue card for a goalkeeper under the planned new sin-bin law could turn games into absolute chaos.


Football is fearing the introduction of a proposed blue card that would see players sent to a sin-bin for ten minutes. The purpose of the new card is to crack down on dissent towards officials and would be shown to any player who oversteps that boundary, as well as to any player who commits a tactical foul.


The proposed laws for the introduction of the third card would come with no special provision for goalkeepers being sent to the sin-bin, as per the same punishment for outfield players.


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According to the Telegraph, in the instance that a keeper is shown a blue card, they will be sin-binned and the manager will have to choose between temporarily putting an outfield player in goal or permanently substituting the offending keeper for another stopper on the bench, though the substituted goalie would not be able to return.


Should the team have already used up all their substitutes, an outfield player would have to go in goal until the sin-binned keeper can return, with no additional sub offered.

What are your thoughts on the proposed sin-bin law? Let us know in the comments section.

Referee blue card
The proposed introduction of a blue card has been met with anger(Image: Getty)

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The debacle regarding the introduction of the blue cards won’t be implemented in the top-tier competitions initially, with trials taking place further down the professional pyramid. However, there are more questions than answers regarding the radical revamp that has already taken place at the grassroots level.

Fans have also vented their anger towards the proposed new law, one fan complained: “This is so incredibly stupid”, while another questioned: “Why is football being over complicated.” Another disillusioned fan wrote: “So when literally nobody wants this, fans, players, coaches they are trying to bring it into the game, tell me how it makes sense”.

David Martin replaces the injured West Ham United's Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski
Teams would be forced to substitute their goalkeepers or put an outfield player in goal(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
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Another queried: “So rather than improving the standard of referring they are looking for new absurd ways to clamp down on emotions.” A fifth added: “No more a beautiful game”, with another fearing: “It's completely subjective and there no way the refs will be consistent.”

The initial trial period was abruptly blocked last week following the backlash caused. Protects will now be further revised before and during the International Football Association Board’s annual general meeting in Scotland next month.

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