LIKE IT OR NOT, SIN BINS WORK!
TALK of blue cards and sin bins have dominated the mainstream national media in recent weeks with reports suggesting both could be introduced at football’s highest echelons in the near future.
This would result in referees being permitted to send players off for 10 minutes following dissent or cynical fouls – naturally prompting heated debate among top players, managers and pundits who already have their tails in a spin with the controversies over VAR. Of course, we have already had sin bins in operation at Steps 5 and 6 of the National League System, and in grassroots football, for the past five seasons, designed to specifically stamp out dissent.
So I approached some match officials to get their feedback on how the policy has worked so far.
My first port of call was a pretty significant one. Starting his career in the Northern Premier League, Keith Hackett went onto become one of the top referees in world football before retiring from the Premier League ranks in 1994.
Now president of the Northern Counties East League and Penistone C hurch FC, Hackett told me: “Sin bins are definitely a deterrent. Although there are many opportunities for referees to use this sanction but often they don’t. “Match officials allow their performances at times to be undermined by not delivering the punishment when it would be to their own benefit and that of the game. A sin bin ruling not only penalises the individual but also the whole team.
“When I have seen it applied, I have not witnessed the affected team adopting delaying tactics until their player returns after the ten minute period of temporary suspension. I also consider using a different coloured card – like the blue one suggested – might give greater clarity to supporters and other participants that the sin bin has been invoked.” I also spoke to David Stappleton, who referees in the Southern Combination League. He offered some firm views.
Attitude
“I have experienced football with and without sin bins,” said Stappleton. “I prefer the latter with an ability to use it to desired effect during a game. I believe a good referee communicates to the players. And accordingly, I can implement the sin bin or potential use of it. “I try to use a stepped strategy when officiating. This includes public admonishments, then bringing the captain and the offending player into our discussions regarding their poor attitude and behaviour, before lastly deploying the sin bin. “More often than not, I find responsible captains will speak with their player and the issue of dissent goes away. But if it doesn’t or if the captain himself is involved, the sin bin becomes a useful tool. “I would add there is extra work for referees due to sin bins. Although it stems from a lack of understanding generally.
Most people don’t realise it concerns 10 minutes of ball in play, rather than a straight 10 minutes. Dependent on breaks in the action, this can actually last 12 to 13 minutes.” Several other match officials messaged me on social media to evaluate sin bins. I was fascinated to read their remarks… Hertfordshire official Scott Langley added: “Everyone’s tolerance level is different
– so you get sin bins used differently week to week at a ref ’s discretion. If you can communicate well with players and captains, you can help to control the majority of incidents without needing sin bins.”
Michael Pedler, chairman of Cardiff Referees’ Society, pointed out: “Sin bins have been trialled in Wales and they obviously work since dissent has dropped.”
Caveats
Gloucestershire whistler Keith Iles went on: “I was still refereeing in the first two or three seasons when sin bins came in – it was brilliant. Within four weeks most dissent had stopped because teams controlled their own players rather than risk going down to 10 men.” But Yorkshire ref John Lowe is not quite so convinced: “My experience as a ref is sin bins don’t work,” he revealed. “Dissent hasn’t declined. When a player is going to give you dissent, the thought of 10 minutes in the sin bin doesn’t stop them so it is no deterrent. Players don’t feel they’re doing anything wrong anyway.
“What I’m also finding very common is that once asked to go to the sin bin, the dissent regularly escalates to foul and abusive language resulting in a red card. I don’t think I’ve sent anyone off this season in anything other than those circumstances.” All in all, some mixed opinions across a decent cross-section of those at the sharp end. Generally, it seems most refs are in favour of sin bins but some caveats have been raised. Personally, I watch up to 60 fixtures each season at Steps 5 and 6 and I’m certain any measure that reduces dissent has got to be desirable. There is a significant shortage of match officials in the grassroots ranks so we must protect them from verbal abuse.
After all, you simply can’t have a game of football without a referee.