How Premier League bosses reacted to blue card news as Pochettino LAUGHS and rivals call it ‘confusing’ and ‘cluttered’
MAURICIO POCHETTINO has laughed off the idea of blue cards – as top Premier League bosses criticise plans for sin-bin trials.
Big names like the Chelsea boss, Jurgen Klopp and Ange Postecoglou fear a new card between yellow and red would mean “clutter” and “confusion”.
So far it seems only Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta believes the rugby-style idea is worth trying – and even he doubts if the game is “ready” for it.
The International Football Association Board (Ifab) are considering 10-minute banishments for cynical fouls or dissent.
Also, a blue and a yellow card, or two blues, would equal a red card.
But top-flight managers mostly spoke out against the scheme, which could be trialled next season if Ifab approves it.
Pochettino said: “I think that is going to create more debate. It is going to be more complicated for the referees, the players, the fans.
“At the moment, my feeling is that it is not a good idea. But we will see what happens, with one opportunity to see how it works.
“But my first feeling is that it is so complicated to add another colour, because there are so many question marks.”
Liverpool boss Klopp was even more sceptical as he said: “We should keep it as simple as somehow possible, for the referees as well.
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“The introduction of a blue card would just give more opportunities to fail as well because the discussion will be, ‘It was a blue card, should it have been a yellow card?’
“It doesn’t sound like a fantastic idea in the first moment but actually I can’t remember the last fantastic idea from these guys, if they ever had one. I am 56 and, bah, never!”
Tottenham chief Postecoglou said: “I don’t know if there’s that much wrong with the game. My issue is that VAR has changed football as an experience.
“I don’t know about this taking things from other sports. Other sports are trying to make their games faster, we’re bringing in more clutter.”
Newcastle‘s Eddie Howe insisted the “current system works well” – if “applied right”.
He added: “I think adding a blue card would just add more confusion.
“I think sin-bins would change the game a lot. But not in a good way, because I think it will make it very bitty, more stop-start.
“I fear for the players who would have to go off for 10 minutes and then re-find the rhythm of a Premier League game.”
West Ham‘s David Moyes is worried football’s rule-makers are “playing around with too much at the moment” – especially as he reckons VAR needs more time to settle in.
However, Arteta was more positive – as long as sin-bins aren’t rushed in.
He said: “I don’t know if we are ready for that yet. Hopefully it’s going to be tested very well before they introduce it at this level.
“I think everything has been done with the intention to simplify football, to try to improve decisions that are hard to make in a split-second.
“Hopefully everything is done to improve the game and if that’s the case, then let’s try it.”
