FA Cup could introduce sin bins from NEXT SEASON and overhaul VAR in one of biggest ever rule changes
THE FA Cup could trial sin-bins next season – with VAR also set to change.
International rule-makers are likely to approve FA plans for ten-minute banishments.
Getty Images – GettyMauricio Pochettino’s Chelsea visit Unai Emery’s Aston Villa in an FA Cup fourth-round replay on Wednesday[/caption]
RexThe world’s most famous domestic competition could see major change[/caption]
Next term is also expected to see referees announce video-replay decisions via microphones – like at the women’s World Cup last summer.
And a third major initiative should also get the go-ahead – a rugby-style rule where only captains are allowed to approach the referee.
That’s part of a powerful new push to improve players’ discipline.
The Times say the proposals could all be cleared at the International FA Board’s annual meeting in Scotland in March.
The FA is then tipped to “seriously consider” trialling sin-bins for dissent or cynical fouls in the men’s and women’s FA Cup.
It follows successful trials of the temporary sending-off in amateur and youth football across England and Wales, albeit just for dissent.
The change is designed to curb unsporting fouls that rile fans as well as potentially changing the course of matches.
For example, had the rule been in place three years ago, Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini might have been sin-binned for the infamous way he pulled Bukayo Saka back at a crucial time in the Euro 2020 final.
WHEN WOULD PLAYERS BE SIN-BINNED
THE sin-bin trials would focus on two areas of rule-breaking.
The FA want to curb tactical fouls that infuriate supporters.
These are the sort of clever or crafty actions that for so long were called “professional fouls”.
At the moment, such fouls might not deny an obvious scoring chance but they could well halt a dangerous attack when a chance appears likely to be created.
Similarly, these cynical interventions might break the momentum of a team pressing for a vital goal.
Instead, fearing a possible 10 minutes on the sidelines, players would think twice about tugging an opponent back or cynically tripping a speeding player.
The other use of temporary dismissals is part of a major push towards improving behaviour towards match officials.
It would mean only captains could go up to referees to question decisions.
The FA hope that rule will stop teams swarming around a ref – as well as limiting the flare-ups that can spread quickly when players rush in over a heated incident or controversial decision.
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At 1-1 and with seconds left of normal time, the outpaced centre-back halted Saka the only way he could.
Yet Chiellini was only booked and Italy went on to win 3-2 on penalties.
The 39-year-old even laughed off the controversial moment, happily admitting: “I grabbed him good!”
And in the 2018 Champions League final Sergio Ramos seriously injured Liverpool’s main man Mo Salah by hauling him down on the half-hour.
Many believed it was a match-turning moment as Real Madrid turned a goalless first period into a 3-1 victory.
The international board that will decide if sin-bin trials can go ahead is made up of Fifa, who have four votes, and the four British associations, who have one apiece.
