SFAtoclamp down on serial offenders
The SFA have launched new suspension rules which will reward players who clean up their act in the second half of a season but come down harder on players who habitually offend. In recent seasons a simple formula has been applied to the disciplinary process. When a player reached a total of six yellow cards in league games he would receive a one-match suspension. Should he receive a further six cards in the course of a season an additional twomatch ban would be handed down. A further six cards would see the player serving a three-game suspension. However, critics deemed the system unfair as a player could pick up 11 yellow cards in total and only miss one game, while a player who amassed only one more caution would serve two suspensions and miss three games. Under the new rules a player will be banned for one game if they pick up six cautions in the first 18 league games of the season and banned for two when they reach 12 bookings in total. However a player who is booked five or fewer times in the first half of the season will serve no suspension should their total reach six in the second half. A two-game ban will, however, kick in if their misdemeanours in games 19-36 (or in the play-offs) see their name taken a total of 12 times. A player could therefore be booked five times in the first half of the season and six times in the second and not be suspended. Meanwhile a team-mate who was booked eight times in the first half and four times in the second would serve a one- game ban for games 1-18 then a two-game ban for games 19-36 or in the play-offs By the same token, a player booked three times in the first tranche of games then nine times in the second would amass the same number of 12 bookings. However they will serve only a two-game ban as they did not hit the first trigger point of six yellow cards in the first half of the season. PFA Scotland are believed to have pushed for the new approach which is certainly going to keep club secretaries busy in the coming months!