Izuchukwu OkosiWorld football governing body, Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has unequivocally opposed the introduction of the blue card in football.
The proposal for the introduction of the blue card was made by International Football Association Board (IFAB) the body that make laws of the game.
However, FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has clearly stated that the rule will not be implemented.
“There will not be any blue cards used at elite level. This is a topic that is non-existent for us,” Infantino told reporters at the IFAB’s meeting at Loch Lomond in Scotland.
The proposal from football’s rule-making body to introduce ‘blue cards’, which gives referees the power to send players off for 10 minutes for dissent or committing cynical fouls, was discussed with FIFA at the IFAB’s Annual General Meeting in Scotland.
Infantino who claims that he was not aware of the plans to introduce the rule before the news went public further stated that they are not ruling out new innovations
“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.”
The blue card was expected to be in use at the football tournament of the Olympics in Paris but has now been effectively been ruled out.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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