Pochettino: "Blue Cards Are not a Good Idea."
Mauricio Pochettino, Chelsea's coach, has come out against blue cards, which will lead to a ten-minute expulsion for players committing tactical fouls or protesting referee decisions. He said they're "not a good idea" and will only cause "more confusion."
This new protocol will limit blue cards to fouls that disrupt "promising attacks" or player protests. Additionally, a player will be sent off if they receive two blue cards, or one blue and one yellow (and vice versa).
"It's hard to express how I feel about blue cards. We don't have much information on it yet. I think it'll spark more debate and make things more complicated for referees, players, and fans," Pochettino said in a press conference on Friday.
"At the moment, it's not a good idea, but we'll see what happens next because it's a chance to see how it works. My initial feeling is that it's very complicated because there are many questions," the Argentine added.
This measure will mark the first time a new disciplinary card has been introduced since the arrival of yellow and red cards in the 1970 World Cup.