Chelsea manager Mauricio Pochettino has labelled the suggestion of a blue card sin-bin trial in football as a “bad idea” following reports that the idea is set to be tested.
Plans for the trial were set to be released on Friday but latest reports suggest IFAB, the body which makes the laws of the game, has postponed publication of the new proposal.
A blue card would see a player leave the pitch for 10 minutes if deemed to be guilty of dissent or a cynical foul but when asked about it, the Chelsea boss was not convinced by the idea.
“It’s difficult to express how I feel. We don’t have much information and I think it will create more debate,” he said.
“It is going to be more complicated to the referees, the players and the fans. I think, at the moment, it’s not a good idea.
“We will see, we give one opportunity to see how it works then can have a better opinion, but my first feeling is it’s so complicated to add another card to the game.”
And as a former defender himself, Pochettino is unsure that he would have coped well with the existence of blue cards.
“I don’t know the intention of the blue card, but for sure I’d have got a lot. A lot!” said Pochettino.
“The interpretation of the referee to apply yellow or red or blue is so difficult.
“Only quick question is what happens to the goalkeeper? Do you play without one for 10 minutes, you can change a player for a keeper?
“We’ll see and after when the camera’s off I’ll give you my answer.”
Chelsea travel to Crystal Palace for a Monday night London derby, coming off the back of a big 3-1 FA Cup win at Aston Villa.
