After years of speculation as to whether it could work in the beautiful game, blue cards are set to be tested across world football as part of a new trial of the sin-bin system seen in sports like rugby.
As per an exclusive by Telegraph Sport, the small-scale introduction of blue cards is scheduled to take place sometime next season and could be as early as this summer, with trials starting out in smaller competitions before being potentially workshopped in the likes of the FA Cup and Women’s FA Cup.
While it’s said that they will not be seen in European competitions like the Euros or next year’s Champions League, with UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin having come out in full protest against them — “It’s not football anymore”, he previously told the outlet — there’s already been a push for blue cards.
The Welsh FA have been keen to try out the sin-bin alternative for this competitive year, calling for blue cards instead of the long-discussed orange so as to clearly differentiate between yellow and red, but the testing has been done at the grassroots level in Wales has simply used yellows for the time being.
Blue cards are set to be trialed in football, according to @TeleFootball
Players will be sent off for 10 minutes if they commit a cynical foul or show dissent 🔵 pic.twitter.com/CL4AuvAJAA
One game-changing example came to mind immediately on social media.
So how would blue cards and sin-bins in football work?
Now, the proposed sin-bin system is pretty straightforward by the sounds of things: one blue card equates to 10 minutes off the pitch and will be handed out by referees in response to things like dissent or cynical fouls in the first order.
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The Telegraph reports that two blue cards would result in a red just like a player would currently be sent off if they earned a second yellow card.
How this will integrate with existing bookings via a traditional yellow or receiving one of each etc. remains to be seen but will no doubt be outlined in more detail when the official announcement is made, expected to be this Friday, 9 February.
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Said to have been signed off by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the governing body which adjudicates over FIFA and all other organisations within world football, the introduction of blue cards and the sin-bin system would be the biggest rule change since the 1970 World Cup.
IFAB will publish the detailed protocols for sin bin trials in professional football tomorrow and are expected to include a provision for blue cards 🟦
In the trials, referees will have the power to send players off for 10 minutes for dissent or cynical fouls ⏱️ pic.twitter.com/TXzz7DFaSy
The iconic tournament saw the first use of yellow and red cards over half a century ago and is now the standard so synonymous with the game that most football fans won’t remember a time before it.
Although the introduction of VAR just a few years ago now has proved controversial in the sport, to say the least, sin-bins have been used on numerous occasions in youth and grassroots games up and down the UK, with refs cracking down on dissent (complaining to/abusing officials) more and more each year.
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If the new proposals are ultimately greenlit, they could also the trial of another rugby union-style rule which will see only team captains allowed to contest on-field calls to further dissuade players from swarming referees in an effort to pressure them into making a particular decision.
It would be a landmark moment in the history of football if it does pass and progress into global leagues and major tournaments. What do you reckon — a good idea or a bad one?
2024 Manchester Marathon raises £29 million for local economy and over £3.7m for charity
Danny Jones
Just under a fortnight on from the 2024 Manchester Marathon and the numbers are finally, with the annual race generating nearly £30 million for the local economy and raising over £3.7m for charity.
This year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon saw record numbers of runners and spectators as over 30,000 took part in the popular race, up by roughly 6,000 from 2023, and more than 125k turned up to line the streets of Greater Manchester.
As a result, these huge crowds spent upwards of £29.2 million at business around the city centre and around the 10 boroughs last weekend, serving as one of the most significant contributions to the local economy on the annual calendar.
Not only was this an approximately £8m increase on last year’s tally but, most importantly, a sizeable chunk of that went straight into both regional and national charities.
The 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon was a spectacular day for the city and its economy.
Beyond the boost to local vendors, the hospitality sector and retail businesses, over £3.7 million were allocated to charities such as Alzheimer’s Charity, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and The Christie.
Over £32,000 was also raised for the Trafford Active Fund, with £1 from every paid entry to the Adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half donated directly to the initiative that benefits local sports clubs and organisations through Trafford Council.
Better still, with City of Trees selected as the chosen ‘Green Runner’ charity, the eco-friendly drive saw roughly 7% of participants opt out of receiving either a finisher t-shirt, medal or both.
The money saved in production goes towards maintaining woodlands and wildlife across Greater Manchester.
Together you have raised over £3.7 million for charitable causes, adding even more meaning to those 26.2 miles 💕 Well done and thank you to all those who fundraised and donated! 🌟Tag us in those charity top pictures from last weekend 😍😍#ManchesterMarathonpic.twitter.com/5gsi6NtFzB
This year’s Manchester Marathon also helped produce some of the highest number of passengers on public transport in the city’s history, with a over 175,000 journeys made on Metrolink alone – the highest number of journeys ever recorded on a single day.
This was a 20% increaseon 2023’s race day (145k), spotlighting how the event continues to be more environmentally conscious as years go by.
With the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon confirmed to be taking place on Sunday, 27 April next year – and over 12,000 places already sold – the city can already look forward to reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting one of Europe’s largest, flattest, friendliest and most-loved marathons.
Featured Images — Adidas Manchester Marathon/The Manc Group
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‘Enough is enough’: Marcus Rashford calls out fans for ‘months’ of abuse
Danny Jones
Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has put his foot down in a social media post, calling for an end to ‘months of abuse’ from both his own supporters and beyond.
It’s fair to say that the 26-year-old hasn’t been enjoying his best season in a United shirt and while he has had his moments this year – his goal against Arsenal and stunning opener in the Manchester derby, just to name a couple – he’s come under a lot of pressure from supporters.
Rashford previously came out to address the situation in a Players Tribune interview back in February, stating, “I can’t have people questioning my commitment to Man United”, but now the England international has reiterated the point after someone came to his defence on X.
Quoting a fan who wrote that “the way Marcus Rashford is being treated is absolutely disgusting”, calling the behaviour online and on matchdays in some cases as “cruel” and downright abuse”, he responded by declaring: “Enough is enough”.
I appreciate your support! It is abuse and has been for months. Enough is enough https://t.co/MUfiU0JwEb
The Wythenshawe winger has already labelled doubts over his effort levels, love and loyalty to the club “ridiculous”, reiterating time and time again that he’s a boyhood Red, but that hasn’t stopped people continuing to criticise him online.
Sadly, while he’s also insisted that he “can take criticism” and headlines when his performances aren’t quite up to scratch, the negativity hasn’t just been limited to social media and has been spilling out into the matchday stands.
Reports of Rashford being booed off the pitch by his own supporters at Wembley during United’s admittedly chaotic performance against Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final were confirmed by multiple sources at the time.
Although he didn’t comment on the response from the travelling Reds at the time, it’s now clear he was abundantly aware of the frosty reception as he was substituted, with many within the fan base and beyond calling the decision to boo your own players “classless” and “shameful”.
We were in the west press box (among Coventry fans) so amid the din after the equaliser and anticipation of ET, the booing of Rashford wasn't as audible as on TV. Relationship between player and matchgoers is broken. In the interests of all parties he goes in the summer. #mufc
Fans play a part in performances! Especially with social media, you can say players shouldn’t be on twitter or whatever but that’s not the point. How could rashford possibly perform when half the fanbase is calling him THE problem???
With seven goals and five assists to his name across all competitions this season, it’s fair to say Marcus Rashford has been a far cry away from the heights he has managed to hit in recent years.
It was only last season that he hit a career-high record of 40 goal contributions, sitting as one of the most prolific players in all of Europe during another difficult season for the club, even managing to surpass club legend Andy Cole’s record.
Just goes to show how short people’s memories can really be – especially when it comes to football – and Erik ten Hag has already urged patience from his fans when it comes to his players, and not just his number ten.
‘The Beautiful Game’ is and always will be a fickle sport but it’s worth reminding of just how much the academy product has already delivered during his time at Man United. Anyone can have a tough season.
Danny Jones -
8th February 2024 
