FIFA completely opposed to ‘blue cards’, chief Infantino says

FIFA is against the International Football Association Board’s proposal for so-called ‘blue cards’, President Gianni Infantino said, adding that he was unaware of the idea before it caught the public eye.

The proposal from football’s rule making body to introduce ‘blue cards’, which gives referees the power to send players off for 10 minutes for dissent or committing cynical fouls, was discussed with FIFA at the IFAB’s Annual General Meeting in Scotland.

“There will not be any blue cards used at elite level. This is a topic that is non-existent for us,” Infantino told reporters on Friday, arriving at the IFAB’s meeting at Loch Lomond in Scotland.

“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.”