Orange cards proposed by Fifa candidate

[tiger666]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25811977

Fifa presidential candidate Jerome Champagne has suggested introducing orange cards that would allow referees to send players to a sin-bin.

The Frenchman, 55, launched his bid to succeed Sepp Blatter as the world governing body's president on Monday.

He also wants to punish teams when players question officials and hopes football will consider using more technology for key decisions.

Fifa's presidential election will be held in Zurich in June 2015.

His other proposals include:

• Quotas for foreign players
• Implementing rugby's rule where only the captain can talk to the referee with a free-kick advanced 10 yards for any dissent
• Abolishing the 'triple punishment' rule where a player who prevents a goalscoring opportunity in the penalty areas concedes a spot-kick, is sent off and also suspended
• All Fifa presidential candidates taking part in live debates on television and in front of the six continental confederations
• Making public the salary of the Fifa president and leading officials

Former referees have mixed views on the proposals with George Courtney saying the introduction of sin-bins would work but Roger Milford insisting it would make football "too dictatorial".

Champagne, who has been backed by Pele, announced his intentions to become football's most powerful man at a news conference in London.

"We need a different Fifa," he said. "More democratic, more respected, which behaves better and which does more."

However, he admits he will struggle to win the election if Blatter, who will be 78 in March, decides to stand for a fifth term in office.

Asked if he could beat Blatter, Champagne, a former diplomat, said: "I don't think so, he's someone of relevance."

He added: "I don't know whether Mr Blatter will run or not. Of course, as a matter of politeness I informed him what I was planning to do.

"I don't know what he will do. Some people say I am manipulated by him but I tell you 'no'. I stand because I believe in what I am saying."

Blatter has been re-elected three times since becoming president in 1998 but has not yet said whether he will stand again.

A former Fifa deputy general secretary, Champagne worked closely with Blatter between 2002 and 2005 before leaving the organisation in 2010.

Since then, he has been working as an international football consultant in troubled regions including Kosovo, Palestine and Israel and Cyprus.

Champagne suggests players could be sin-binned for two or three minutes for "in-between fouls committed in the heat of the moment".

He cited the example of a player who had already been booked then receiving a second yellow card for taking off his shirt to celebrate a goal.

Champagne also suggests allowing only team captains to approach a referee to question a decision and wants referees to be able to move the ball 10 yards further forward if a player is guilty of dissent.

"More often than ever, matches are being marred by unacceptable scenes of players surrounding and haranguing the referee," he wrote in a document first published in March 2013.

Brazil legend Pele, a three-time World Cup winner, said he supports Champagne's campaign.

"I cannot stay away from a debate which is so important for the future of football," he said in a recorded message shown at Monday's news conference. "Thus, I support Jerome Champagne and his vision."

Uefa president Michel Platini is also a possible candidate, although the former France midfielder has not yet declared his intentions.

Courtney, who officiated in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups in Mexico and Italy respectively, believes sin-bins could work in football.

"It would have to be under the right criteria but I think the time has come to seriously consider sin-bins," said the former referee assessor. "I expect the international board would be considering them.

"Red-card offences should still be punished with a red card but maybe for some other offences it would work. I'm not sure I see the need for the 10-yard rule as I don't think that is a problem."

Fifa scrapped a rule which moved play 10 yards towards the offending team's goal if players showed dissent in 2005 after four seasons in English football.

But former referee Milford believes it should be brought back.

"It worked well before," he said. "You see it creeping into local football now with more players challenging decisions. Maybe this would make them think twice.

"I don't think the sin-bins would work though. They are going over the top.

"You already have yellow cards and red cards and any more cards would just create more room for confusion."

I like the rugby idea where only the captain can talk to the referee. Be a nightmare trying to get that to change though.

 

[Rocksuperstar]

The rugby thing where only captains can talk to the ref has been suggested a few times, if my memory serves, but i can't figure out the point of these "orange cards" at all. Yellow is a warning, two of them you're off, red a straight dismissal - where's the room to maneuver there? I can see the gap that the orange card is supposed to fill. If we were in an era of savage tackles where players were being sent off every game, leaving teams men short all the time, maybe we would need to consider it but we're not in that era.

 

[Flynn]

Adding another car is just adding to the confusion that already exists.

Just make a yellow carry a 10 minute cooling off period. The number of yellows will drop as players try to avoid getting booked for stupid things like time wasting and will consider it every time they make a tackle so I don't think really you'll ever end up with loads of players off the pitch.

 

[SugarRay]

The captain thing is long overdue.

Not too sure about an orange card though! I would like to see those that have to receive treatment thus causing a break in play, not be allowed to return to the field for five minutes. That would sort the bullshitters buying time from the genuine cases. Might be hard to enforce though. Blatter was talking about that recently.

Anyone abusing an official should receive an immediate red card. Anyone questioning a decision other than the captain ( and even then he has to address the ref pre overly and speak to him calmly, no shouting or getting in the faces of officials etc ) should get a yellow card.

The treatment of officials in football is probably the most embarrassing thing in the sport. Its disgusting, and not only from the players. Can learn a lot from rugby in this respect. Rugby officials make as many mistakes as football officials do, yet no rugby player would ever approach a ref screaming abuse and calling him all the names under the sun. And its a far more aggressive and charged game than football, played by far more aggressive people too.

 

[Wolver]

Orange card could work for some situations, if it was used for diving or back chatting the ref. But other than that can't really see why is needed..

Not too sure about an orange card though! I would like to see those that have to receive treatment thus causing a break in play, not be allowed to return to the field for five minutes. That would sort the bullshitters buying time from the genuine cases. Might be hard to enforce though. Blatter was talking about that recently.

Prob with that is that you'd also be punishing players who are generally injured.

I think these situations need retrospective action. I can't understand why the FA is so against this.

 

[Yid-ol]

Adding another car is just adding to the confusion that already exists.

Just make a yellow carry a 10 minute cooling off period. The number of yellows will drop as players try to avoid getting booked for stupid things like time wasting and will consider it every time they make a tackle so I don't think really you'll ever end up with loads of players off the pitch.

I am confused already.... when was a first car added!

I agree any other cards is just going to confuse things and make it harder for the ref. Stupid idea... but thats what we get frim fifa these days.

 

[Gbspurs]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25811977



I like the rugby idea where only the captain can talk to the referee. Be a nightmare trying to get that to change though.

Not really. As soon as free kicks outside the area start getting walked inside the area due to dissent, it would stop.

 

[Syn_13]

I like the captains only idea, will stop twats from ganging up on the ref. Although if it's outside the box or a penalty, what are you going to do? The orange card idea is a bit weird, don't see the need for it. I'd rather a "sin bin" for 10 minutes than another card. Don't think the disciplinary measures need changing though.

A small thing but they should bring in that spray that refs use to mark out where the wall should be too. Thought it was a good idea when I saw it.

 

[sim0n]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25811977



I like the rugby idea where only the captain can talk to the referee. Be a nightmare trying to get that to change though.

Frankly, I believe in footie it is already worded that way, or it's the captain and "offending " player ONLY... FIFA are making this more complicated than necessary and rugby has the template:

1- players/staff need to treat the refs professionally so they can do their job, or get sent off/suspended/banned
2- just use video technology with the prem for goal line, diving, penalties, etc (4th/5th official)
3- make the refs full time professional instead of part time -- then they can fully back them

Rugby can control their employees, yet footie seems to encourage ridiculous behaviour from theirs

Rugby uses video replay that only takes seconds to apply the decision having the players LEAVE the ref alone to make that decision,.... none of this surrounding the ref/asst ref, constant foul mouthed abuse, etc perhaps footie culture needs to instill a little pride/respect/dignity/integrity in itself,.... footie certainly has the money to implement all

C'mon FIFA, for the good of the game please

(BTW - I wish FIFA put this much time and effort into eliminating match fixing...)

 

[Gassin's finest]

Leave the actual fucking game alone, and sort out the fucking cheating ****s, disrespect and corruption instead.

 

[Mullers]

Too much inconsistancy from refs means these ideas wouldn´t work.

 

[$hoguN]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/25811977



I like the rugby idea where only the captain can talk to the referee. Be a nightmare trying to get that to change though.

The captain thing is simple to enforce. At the start of the season you tell clubs that from now on only the captain has the right to discuss decisions with the referee or his assistants. Players can still be called over to the referee and spoken to where you will allow them to calmly state their opinion on the incident, but any player who decides to confront or act aggressively towards a referee that is not the captain or has not been asking to speak to the referee will be booked. Then you just tell your referees to enforce the rules. Once two or three players get sent off it will end the issue as people won't want to risk it. Liverpool and Utd won't have a man on the pitch by the end of the game but still.

My guess is that the orange card will replace a yellow for certain incidents, i.e. diving, scything someone down when they are running through, swearing at the referee. Whereas mis-timed tackles and unsporting behaviour will be simply awarded the usual yellow card.

 

[tiger666]

The captain thing is simple to enforce. At the start of the season you tell clubs that from now on only the captain has the right to discuss decisions with the referee or his assistants. Players can still be called over to the referee and spoken to where you will allow them to calmly state their opinion on the incident, but any player who decides to confront or act aggressively towards a referee that is not the captain or has not been asking to speak to the referee will be booked. Then you just tell your referees to enforce the rules. Once two or three player get sent off it will end the issue as people won't want to risk it.

My guess is that the orange card will replace a yellow for certain incidents, i.e. diving, scything someone down when they are running through, swearing at the referee. Whereas mis-timed tackles and unsporting behaviour will be simply awarded the usual yellow card.

Aye true enough. You know what I really hate seeing? When a ref calls a player over to be booked and the player just runs off even though the ref is calling him over. You know, when the players is facing the ref but walking backwards. That REALLY gets on my tits.

 

[$hoguN]

Aye true enough. You know what I really hate seeing? When a ref calls a player over to be booked and the player just runs off even though the ref is calling him over. You know, when the players is facing the ref but walking backwards. That REALLY gets on my tits.

Same here. Doesn't happen in rugby as they know the penalty will just be moved forward.

 

[Lufti]

Like them all except the orange card sin bin idea! If he ditches that and does all the rest, it'll be good progress

 

[tiger666]

Well whatever happens, I just hope we get someone with more balls and common sense than Blatter.

 

[$hoguN]

Like them all except the orange card sin bin idea! If he ditches that and does all the rest, it'll be good progress

Why don't you like the sin bin idea? If used well it will instantly stop diving and "professional" fouls where players pull you down when you are through as they will have to weight up the cost of doing it against the likelihood of a team battering them for 10 mins while they play with 10 men.

 

[Lufti]

Why don't you like the sin bin idea? If used well it will instantly stop diving and "professional" fouls where players pull you down when you are through.

Because I think refs are already incapable with only 2 cards let alone 3. I get that it would potentially save some red cards being given out incorrectly, but I still think they'd be incorrectly and overused by refs and would have a big effect on the game.

I think the key to your sentence is 'if used well'..

 

[$hoguN]

Because I think refs are already incapable with only 2 cards let alone 3. I get that it would potentially save some red cards being given out incorrectly, but I still think they'd be incorrectly and overused by refs and would have a big effect on the game.

The number of times in a season where players intentionally "take the yellow" stopping teams scoring is getting beyond a joke though, as is diving. The use of the cards wouldn't be made too difficult as you would say the orange card replaces the yellow only for certain offences rather than just being a third option.

 

[talkshowhost86]

My personal list of seemingly simple improvements:

1. Apply retrospective action to diving. Any dive receives a one match ban, going up as they do it more often.
2. Captains only allowed to talk to the ref. Yellow cards for anyone else that chips in.
3. Allow physios to come on the pitch to treat injured players and don't stop the game. Obviously this has the same discretion as now where the ref can stop it if it's a head injury or anything else serious, but I'm not sure why the game needs to stop. This will stop those that go down unnecessarily and cut out the crap about 'putting the ball out'.