Coaches Can Get a Red Card Too

Australia is set to start trials giving yellow and red cards to the coaches for their soccer teams. This will mark the first such trial worldwide, and will include not only coaches but other team officials as well, and is aimed at improving behaviour at the touchlines. These new measures are set to be introduced over this weekend during the domestic A-League and W-League games.

The Football Advisory Board Approves

This move was approved by the International Football Advisory Board. The Board is comprised of the four football associations of Britain:

1. England
2. Scotland
3. Wales
4. Northern Ireland

And the world body FIFA, or Fédération Internationale de Football Association. Punters enjoying the soccer betting NZ offers may have to rethink their game!

Warnings are Already in Place

Head of the A-League Greg O'Rourke stated that refs already had a process to warn coaches before removing them from the technical area after poor behaviour was required, by way of simple conversation.

He went on to say that the trial which Australia was introducing was simply visualising these steps. O'Rourke then added that this was a far better manner by which fans could be informed that refs were giving coaches and others warnings as and when required.

Coaches Face the Same Consequences Players Do

The results of accumulated yellow and red cards for coaches would be the same as those for players. Two yellow cards in a match would result in the coach being sent off, for example, and further extend to an automatic suspension from the following game.

Cautions will be issued to coaches for dissent, provocative gestures, or entering the opposing team's technical area, among other things. Red cards will be issued for a variety of offences, including kicking or throwing of water bottles, language deemed to be abusive, spitting, or delaying a game by holding onto the ball or hindering a player.

O'Rourke added that this measure would assist fans and viewers in understanding the various issues that match officials are required to deal with weekly, and, hopefully, would engender respect for the officials as well. The sporting culture in Australia is strong, but it must be regulated. He went on to say that this would also send a very strong message through the game at the grassroots level that bad behaviour towards match and opposition officials would simply not be tolerated any more, and that consequences would be meted out.

This trial is a part of the International Football Association Board's worldwide Play Fair project. Its aim to is make soccer more appealing, and more fun, while promoting officials and players as good role models.