Jurgen Klopp Blasts IFAB For Controversial New Card in Football

  • Weekly Giveaway for our active users. N50,000 per Week. Do you want to contribute to this community? We are looking for contribution? What is hot right now? Sign up and get in on the ground floor of the newest, fastest growing Nigerian forum!
May 8, 2023
888
1
18
30
Football coaches, pundits, analysts, and fans, have expressed their disapproval of the controversial new card that has been introduced in football.

In addition to the red and yellow cards, a blue card has been added to the fold of control tools for match referees. International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved the introduction of the blue card with football sin bins - a novelty disciplinary concept borrowed from the sticks and goal sport, ice hockey.

While red and yellow cards penalize players for rough tackles, dissent, and other breaches of extant football rules, the blue card is specifically meant for 'cynical fouls' and 'dissent.' Players issued with blue cards will temporarily be suspended from action into sin bins for 10 minutes.

Some national FAs are poised to experiment with the new initiative with England FA ready to deploy it with effect from 2025 in men's and women's FA Cup.

Meanwhile, the new football card has been met with heavy backlash and criticisms from fans, and pundits, including football coaches. Soon-to-leave Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has been among the vocal clique of managers disparaging the decision by IFAB to introduce the card into the game.

When asked about the card and sin bins, a terse Jurgen Klopp got under the skin of IFAB with a satirical but scathing remark.

He said;

"I can't remember their last good idea and I am 56."


Obviously, the blue card and football sin bins have not had the best reception from football coaches and fans. The sentiments are understood. The likelihood of losing your player from action for 10 minutes will definitely give the opponent an advantage. Nevertheless, the proponents of the initiative have maintained it is to promote fair play and sportsmanship during the game while phasing out dissent.

Whether the blue card and sin bins can live up to the bidding is a matter of debate but the uproar on its tendency to dilute the game and give referees extended powers is a reality. In an era where recent football innovations like the VAR have failed to beat the marks, a blue card and sin bins to extend the power of referees could not be more doubted.