AND THEY’RE OFF!
Red cards and bans for misbehaving managers
they will be handed a touchline ban for their next fixture. Suspensions will apply across domestic competitions and will not have a cut-off date.
The experiment is intended to improve transparency. More than 100 clubs will need to adapt to the new system as it will apply to the FA Cup from the first round proper, the Championship, League One and Two, the National League, the League Cup and EFL Trophy.
The experiment, which has been designed by The International FA Board (IFAB) and trialled successfully in other countries, is primarily aimed at repeat offenders.
Previously, the referee only had the power to issue verbal warnings for initial offences and could send managers to the stands only for the most serious incidents of misconduct.
This meant ‘caution offences’ by managers, which will now result in a yellow card, risked going unpunished.
Two yellow cards in one match will result in the manager being shown a red card and dismissed to the stands.
Four yellow cards across competitions will result in a one-match ban, eight will result in a twomatch ban, 12 a three-match ban and more than 16 an FA misconduct charge.
Unlike for players, whose yellow cards are wiped off halfway through the season, there will be no such amnesty for managers.
Straight red cards will be shown to managers for violent conduct, insulting or abusive language or gestures, spitting at any person and stepping on to the pitch.
Other dismissal offences include entering the video operation room and deliberately throwing or kicking an object on to the pitch.