Ange Postecoglou: Spurs boss questions proposed introduction of blue cards and sin-bins

Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou does not think proposed plans to trial blue cards for sin-binned players will “make any difference” to the game.

It comes as football’s lawmakers Ifab delayed plans to release information about four proposed trials following talks with world governing body Fifa.

“A football match has a life of its own. There are mistakes, flaws and imperfections,” said Postecoglou.

The planned trials would have seen players shown blue cards for dissent and tactical fouls, such as Giorgio Chiellini’s cynical tug on Bukayo Saka for Italy against England in the Euro 2020 final.

Players shown a blue card would have to leave the field for 10 minutes and players would be sent off if they received two blue cards, or a blue and a yellow card.

If passed into the laws of the game, the introduction of a blue card would mark the biggest single change in managing player discipline since red and yellow cards came into force at the 1970 World Cup.

However, Postecoglou is far from convinced by the merit of the idea.

The Australian added: “I struggle to understand why there is this urgency all of a sudden to bring in new things. I don’t know if there’s much wrong with the game as I see it and why a different colour card will make any difference.

“Most of the other sports are trying to speed up their game and I don’t know why we are trying to go the other way.”

When asked about the proposed trial, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp added: “It doesn’t sound like a fantastic idea in the first moment. But actually, I can’t remember when the last fantastic idea came from these guys [Ifab] – if they ever had one.”

Fifa responded to multiple stories on Thursday, some of which raised the potential for the trials to involve elite football, with a public statement urging caution.

It is understood the four trials will remain following further consideration initiated by Fifa, but it has now been decided there will be no confirmation of the precise details until a media conference immediately after Ifab’s annual meeting at Loch Lomond on 2 March to allow for “further exchange”.

Fifa has four of the eight seats at Ifab, with the other four belonging to the home nations.

President Gianni Infantino has previously attended Ifab annual meetings. If he does not attend, another senior official from the organisation will be present.

Sin-bins have been used at grassroots level for dissent but their use could be extended to cynical fouls as part of a trial.