FIFA set to introduce an extra yellow-card amnesty in upcoming WC

All yellow cards are expected to be wiped at the end of the World Cup (WC) group stages and after the quarter-finals to reduce the chance of players missing knockout matches.

The new rules around suspensions for accumulated bookings at this year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico are due to be discussed and signed off at the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday.

In previous editions of the tournament, yellows were only cleared after the quarter-finals.

But given this is an expanded World Cup with 48 teams as opposed to 32, FIFA is planning to change the rules in an attempt to avoid more suspensions, sources with knowledge of the plans – who wish to remain anonymous – have told The Athletic.

Due to there being an additional 16 teams competing, an additional knockout match – the round of 32 – has been added to the schedule.

And the idea behind tweaking the existing rules is to avoid a scenario where suspensions have piled up due to accumulated yellow cards.

If world football’s governing body did not seek a change, then a player picking up two bookings in the five games before reaching a quarter-final would result in a suspension.

But by introducing a second amnesty period after the group stages, a player would need to be issued yellow cards in two of the three group-stage matches, or in two of the round of 32, last 16 and quarter-finals to receive a suspension.

Adopting this approach, FIFA believes, is fairer as it reduces the jeopardy and should allow players to be available for key knockout matches.