Infantino added that FIFA is completely opposed to blue cards, saying, ‘it is red card to the blue card.’
By Kehinde Okeowo
FIFA president, Gianni Infantino has rejected the proposed plan to introduce ‘blue card’ in football.
Reports emerged last week that the International Football Association Board had signed off on the trials.
The proposal from football’s rule making body to introduce ‘blue cards’, which was discussed with FIFA at the IFAB’s Annual General Meeting in Scotland on Friday was meant to give referees power to send players off for 10 minutes for dissent or committing cynical fouls.
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If adopted, it would have been the first time since the introduction of the classic yellow and red cards at the 1970 World Cup that a new card would be used in football.
However, following an immediate backlash to the plan, Infantino told reporters after arriving at the IFAB’s meeting at Loch Lomond in Scotland that: “There will not be any blue cards used at elite level. This is a topic that is non-existent for us.
“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 FIFA President also corroborated the stance while speaking on Sky UK saying such card does not exist.
