FA Cup could see players sin binned for first time in potentially radical change

05 February 2024 , 19:53

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Sin bins could be trialled in the FA Cup from next season

The FA Cup could trial sin bins from next season.

Law makers International FA Board (IFAB) is expected to give the green light to using sin bins for dissent or tactical fouls. Referees could then banish offenders to the sidelines for ten minutes as football tries to crack down on bad behaviour.

IFAB will release its agenda for next month’s meeting on Tuesday but it was given a provisional green light back in November. The idea is to have a trial at lower levels of football but the FA Cup could use them from next season at the earliest.

FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina has backed sin bins and said the abuse and physical threat facing officials "might be the cancer that kills football." The legendary former referee added: "The idea is to go deeper into all of the details because it’s easy to say we do (it) and it’s a bit more difficult how to regulate everything.

"But the idea is to start working on this as soon as possible to provide those who would be involved in the trial a protocol to be used. The idea is to get it soon.

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"The trial was very successful in a grassroots competition. Now we are talking of a higher level, very probably professional or even high professional football."

Collina is not the only key figure within football to discuss the implementation of sin bins, with chief executive of the Football Association Mark Bullingham also addressing the topic.

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FIFA Referee Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina has discussed sin bins

Bullingham claimed back in November: "When we were looking at sin bins – protocol clearly has to be developed – the areas we were looking at were dissent, where it’s worked very, very well in the grassroots game in England.

"We’ve also spoken about other areas, particularly tactical fouls. I think frustration for fans watching games when they see a promising counter-attack that’s ruined by that and the question of whether a yellow card is sufficient for that has led to us looking at whether that should be involved in the protocol as well.

"The starting point was looking at player behaviour and dissent – we’re then looking at whether we should extend it into other areas, such as tactical fouls, as well."

John Cross