Plans to trial blue cards in professional soccer have been scrapped by the International Football Association Board.
It was reported last month that IFAB was set to introduce blue cards in selected competitions to punish dissent and possibly also cynical fouls.
A blue card would have resulted in a player being sent off for a period of 10 minutes – similar to a sin bin in rugby.
However, the idea of blue cards and sin bins has now been shown the red card following widespread negative feedback.
Multiple Premier League managers expressed their opposition, with Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou claiming blue cards would “destroy the game”.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino then said on Friday: “FIFA is completely opposed to blue cards. I was not aware of this topic, the president of FIFA – and I think FIFA has a say in IFAB. No way.
“We have to be serious. We are always open to look at ideas and proposals and everything has to be treated with respect of course.
“But once you look at it you also have to protect the essence and tradition of the game. There is no blue card.”
IFAB was founded in 1886 – 18 years before FIFA was established.
FIFA has recognized IFAB’s jurisdiction over the Laws of the Game for well over a century.
IFAB will now look to test alternative new rules to improve player behavior.
