Football could learn something from their rugby counterparts. The endless stream of yellow cards we are seeing this season could be dramatically reduced if a player was sent to a sin bin for 10 minutes.
This would punish the team more than taking a yellow card. Players can take it in turn to waste time and take a yellow card but would they do it if they were sent from the field of play. Particularly goalkeepers would not likely be found to waste time since replacing them would be difficult. Either a team would have to substitute a keeper or put some outfield player in goal for ten minutes.
As a result of needless fouls and wasting time we are witnessing ridiculous amounts of added on time, not good for the game or players alike, they have to risk more injuries due to playing for longer periods of time.
Red cards are a different matter since a straight red card does punish the team due to players being sent straight off.
The idea of two yellow cards resulting in a red card would become obsolete.
The system of sin bins in rugby seems to work well.
Furthermore a referee stopping their watch when there is a break in play seems more accurate than the guessing game we seem to have at the moment.
Just how do the officials decide how many minutes are added on at the end of a half?
Steve Hughes — Halesowen Bull