(Reuters) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino stated that FIFA is opposed to the International Football Association Board’s proposal for ‘blue cards’, expressing his lack of knowledge about the idea before it gained public attention. The IFAB’s suggestion for introducing ‘blue cards’, allowing referees to send off players for 10 minutes for dissent or cynical fouls, was deliberated at the IFAB’s Annual General Meeting in Scotland.
Infantino made it clear that ‘blue cards’ will not be implemented at the elite level, asserting that the concept is irrelevant to FIFA. He emphasized that FIFA does not support the use of ‘blue cards’, as he was unaware of the topic prior to the meeting. He emphasized FIFA’s influence within the IFAB, stating that if a decision had to be made, it would be a ‘red card to the blue card’ situation.
Infantino highlighted FIFA’s receptiveness to new ideas and proposals, but stressed the importance of preserving the traditional essence of the game. He stated definitively, “There is no blue card.”
(Reporting by Shifa Jahan in Bengaluru; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
