IT’S not often I find myself agreeing with Michel Platini but when it comes to the idea of introducing sin-bins instead of yellow cards, I think the UEFA chief is on to a good thing.
While the concept would need to be looked at in detail before getting anywhere near a top-level match, it seems a decent idea.
For a start, it would make players think twice before commiting a cynical foul or making an ill-advised challenge.
If offenders knew a 10-minute spell on the sidelines awaited them, as it does for misdemeanours in rugby union, they might be less reckless.
Managers would also not take too kindly to having their team reduced to 10 men, or less, for players that tread the wrong side of the disciplinary line.
Yet, like everything, it would need to be managed carefully.
First up would be to redefine what would be punished by the sin-bin.
It would need to reflect the crime and therefore sending players off to cool down for the heinous crime of taking their shirt off while celebrating a goal — they currently get a yellow card — would be stupid.
Some referees are quicker to dish out the cards than others, which would inevitably lead to calls of inconsistency and managers complaining that their player should not have been sent to the sin-bin.
I like Platini’s idea, but it needs to be thought through.
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