‘they better make sure they have a green card’ Celtic and Rangers give verdict on blue cards in football

Although he might prefer that they be tinted green, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers acknowledges that

he is opposed to the introduction of blue cards in Scottish football.

Lawmakers in football The IFAB intends to test blue cards, which will force players to spend ten minutes in the

sin bin before they can return to the game when they are shown by referees. Blue card transgressions

include dissent and tactical fouls.

The International Football Association Board will address the trials’ details at its annual general meeting in

Loch Lomond on March 2, postponing the publication of the trials’ details from Friday until next month.

If a blue card was introduced in accordance with the rules of the game,

it would indicate the biggest single change in managing player discipline since red and

yellow cards came into force at the 1970 World Cup.

Considering the card’s relationship with rival Rangers, Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers is opposed

to both the concept and the colour selection.

The Northern Irishman said at his pre-match news conference before his team’s Scottish Cup matchup against St Mirren,

“As soon as I saw it, I thought, ‘well I work in Scotland, I’m sure they better have a green card as

well as a blue one or we might be in trouble.” Just keep things simple.

Although Philippe Clement, the manager of Rangers, has no problem with the card’s selected shade,

he is adamantly opposed to the implementation of 10-minute sin bins, claiming that it will harm the

product and cause confusion and additional time wastage.

The Belgian stated, “I understand the idea behind it,” at his pre-match press conference before playing

Ayr United in the Scottish Cup. Additionally, I believe that general action on communication with the referees is necessary.

“But the thing with taking players out for ten minutes will create much more nervousness, much more stress,

much more uneven situations by doing that. How long does it take to get a player off the pitch?

When does the ten minutes start? It is ten minutes playing time or real time?

What is a team going to do when they have one player less? What is the result of that for the game of football?

So I’m totally not a fan of that.

“We must exercise caution so as not to alter the game. Football is a great product, in my opinion,

and it’s crucial that the rules remain flexible.

You have less quality output the more stops and dead moments you have.

Taking additional players off during the game is not a smart idea in my opinion because it will negatively impact the game.