IFAB Approves Trials for 'Sin Bins' in Professional Football

The move aims to improve player behaviour and increase respect for match officials, with potential implementation from July 2024.

Football's law-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), has approved trials for 'sin bins' in professional football games. The sin bin concept, already in use in rugby and ice hockey, would allow referees to temporarily send players off the field for certain offences, providing a middle ground between a yellow card and a red card.
The trials will focus on using sin bins for dissent and specific tactical offences. The aim is to improve player behaviour and increase respect for match officials. The sin bin system has already been successfully implemented at the grassroots level.
Alongside the sin bin trials, IFAB also supported a proposed trial where only the team captain may approach the referee in certain major game situations. This is part of a broader effort to curb aggressive behaviour by players towards referees.
The exact protocol for a sin bin, should it be approved, remains to be decided. In the grassroots game, sin bins are indicated by the referee showing a yellow card and pointing with both arms to the sidelines. An offending player is then required to leave the field for 10 minutes.
The proposals will be considered at IFAB's Annual General Meeting in March 2024. If approved, the changes could be incorporated into the Laws of the Game from July 1, 2024.