FIFA is preparing to amend its yellow card suspension rules for the upcoming World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, according to reports by RTE.
Under the proposed change, players would benefit from a second “amnesty point” for bookings, meaning all accumulated yellow cards would be cleared not only after the group stage but also again following the quarter-finals.
The adjustment would reduce the risk of key players being suspended for the semi-finals or final due to earlier cautions picked up in the knockout rounds.
At present, players who receive two yellow cards up to and including the quarter-finals are automatically banned for the next match, a rule that will remain under review due to concerns it may be too harsh in the expanded 48-team format, which now includes an additional knockout round.
It is understood the revision is being considered to improve fairness and ensure that disciplinary accumulations do not overly influence the tournament’s latter stages, particularly as squad depth and scheduling pressures increase under the new format.
The issue is expected to be formally discussed at a FIFA Council meeting taking place in Vancouver on Tuesday.
