FIFA plans new yellow card rule to reduce player suspensions 

by · The Eagle Online

FIFA is considering a major change to its disciplinary rules ahead of the expanded FIFA World Cup in a move aimed at reducing player suspensions caused by accumulated yellow cards.

According to a report by BBC Sport, the proposal would introduce a second amnesty point in the tournament, clearing all yellow cards at the end of the group stage as well as after the quarter-finals.

Under the current system, players are suspended after receiving two yellow cards across a sequence of matches, a rule that can force key players to miss important knockout fixtures.

With the World Cup expanding from 32 to 48 teams, the number of matches needed to reach the latter stages will increase.

Teams will now have to play an extra round, meaning players could feature in up to six matches before the semi-finals.

FIFA believes this increases the risk of suspensions for minor offences, with more players likely to miss major matches because of accumulated cautions.

Instead of raising the suspension threshold to three yellow cards, FIFA officials are said to prefer introducing two cut-off points.

Under the proposed system, players would need to receive two bookings within a shorter run of matches, either during the group stage or across the knockout rounds up to the quarter-finals, before serving a ban.

The adjustment is designed to maintain discipline while reducing the chances of major matches being shaped by the absence of top players suspended for repeated minor fouls.

The proposal is expected to be discussed at an upcoming FIFA Council meeting, where a final decision on the rule change could be made.

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