Know How a Blue Card Would Impact a Side if Given to the Goalkeeper

The announcement that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will try out their new concept of sin-binning players and issuing players blue cards has made waves across the footballing fraternity. While many have expressed their disappointment with the rule, yet to be trialed for top-tier football, there is a certain element regarding the rule that remains unclear: what happens if the goalkeeper is issued the blue card?

In top-tier football, it is a rare occurrence to see the keepers being sent off. But it is fairly normal to see the keeper being issued a yellow card, particularly for wasting time. This usually happens during the final minutes of the game or stoppage time in the second half where his side will have the lead and will look to run down the clock and secure the win.

According to a report by The Telegraph, “A blue card for a goalkeeper will force teams to choose between putting an on-field player in goal or making a permanent substitution under planned new sin-bin trials.”

This will add an interesting element to the game as goalkeepers would now be forced to rethink their time-wasting strategies as being sent to the sin-bin could result in the side possibly conceding an easy goal. This is mainly due to either the on-field player that has now been put behind the net or the second keeper in the squad being brought in usually not having the same level of skill as the primary choice.

Managers, on the other hand, are exempt from the blue card as the report mentioned that they will only be shown a yellow card for dissent and a red for a serious offence.

The introduction of the new rule in the lower leagues has already rattled the top-level coaches notably Liverpool’s manager Jurgen Klopp saying, ”The remedy is already there. If it’s not being enforced to the level people are satisfied, do that. That’s the change.”

The impact of the new law is still uncertain with it not being implemented at the top level. However, time-wasting tactics remain rampant which is not a good sign for the sport and the lack of proper enforcement only allows it to continue.