More disciplinary options for match officials to use on players may soon become available at the highest levels of the sport after the International Football Association Board (IFAB) announced on Monday that trials will proceed for temporary dismissals for "dissent and specific tactical offences."
IFAB reported that grassroots trials were successfully implemented, paving the way for "sin bins" to be tested at higher levels.
How would that work? DAZN explains.
When would "sin bins" be used in football?
IFAB contends that "participant behaviour in football" needs to be better regulated, especially in regards to treatment of match officials by players.
To decrease incidents of players crowding the referees when calls are made, IFAB has proposed that the captains of each respective team may be the only players allowed to approach the match officials in certain situations. This is already standard in ice hockey and other sports, where the captains are afforded increased opportunity to address the officials than other players.
But the biggest takeaway from ice hockey, rugby and other sports may be the use of "sin bins," where the referee can temporarily dismiss players for dissent. Additionally, specific tactical offences (ie. "professional fouls") could also incur the use of sin bins.
Following the grassroots trials, IFAB will now develop protocols and a system for trialling at a higher level of the sport.
From IFAB: "The stricter application of the Laws of the Game against players and coaches who demonstrate disrespectful conduct and the better management of mass confrontations were also amongst the measures discussed, with further trials to be developed."