Sin bin can deal with all indiscretions

NOTHING quite summed up the muddled thinking of this week’s rule change proposals than the suggestion that a 10minute sin-bin should be used for both black card and double yellow card infractions.

In terms of a lack of awareness of the core problem, it was a proposal staggering in its ineptitude.

It is not just the dilution of a double-yellow card offence – under this proposal it would take three yellow cards to get sent off – but it is the failure to address the biggest single flaw of black card law which is its inconsistent application. And that is staggering.

That has not been helped by the fact that some deliberately cynical fouls are deemed yellow card indiscretions, which has fed into the ambiguity and confusion that has dogged its application.

Yet, this proposal seeks to exacerbate it. It demands that referees still have to make a differentiation between black cards and ones that are a darker shade of yellow in terms of intent – even on occasions when there is none. It’s bizarre when they have the sin bin at their disposal to deal with it all in an even-handed and uniform way.

All cautionable offences, which are not red card ones, should merit a 10-minute visit to the sin bin. It’s simple.