International Football Association Board, a lawmaking arm in FIFA have approved a controversial new rule in football, MySportDab reports.
The new rule, which is referred to as ‘sin bin,’ will permit referees not to only brandished yellow cards to players but have them suspended from the match for 10 minutes.
The player will be removed from the field of play as if it was a red card but he will be allowed back to action after 10 minutes.
His team will temporarily play with a man disadvantage at least for 10 minutes due to the decision.
Sin bin will only be applied on dissent by players who protest referees decision on the field.
The sin bin has raised eyebrows among football pundits.
Sky Sports pundit and former Premier League player Paul Merson has blasted the new rule describing it as ‘pathetic’ and ‘will kill the game.’
According to Merson, 10-minutes sin bin will be the very undoing of football as it will give teams very big advantage over their opponents, and twist the balance of the game making it boring as one side will be sitting back the whole 10 minutes to defend against an opponent with a numerical advantage.
However, proponents of the sin bin rule such as Mark Burlingham shares a different opinion.
According to Burlingham, sin bins will be a good addition to the game as it would encourage fair play and curtailed incessant abuse of match officials.
Originally, sin bins are framed to tackle dissent against match officials but Burlingham has argued it could be extended to tactical fouls that are way too malicious and unfair.
Premier League officials and IFAB have agreed to start a trial of the new system from next season following a successful application at the lower tiers in English football.
