Football closes in on two huge rugby-style rule changes as referee chiefs talk up proposals after successful trials

FOOTBALL lawmakers are reportedly considering two huge rugby-style changes.

That’s after successful trials were held at the lower levels of the beautiful game.

Premier League stars are only just getting used to new rules regarding dissent this season.

Referees are no longer allowing themselves to be berated by players.

And players like Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson have already served bans after quickly racking up five yellow cards for the misdemeanour.

However, the International FA Board (Ifab) is now considering tightening the rule even further by only allowing captains to speak to officials.

That would bring footballers in line with their counterparts in rugby.

But it’s not the only rugby rule being weighed up by football chiefs, reports ..

They add that sin-bins could also be added to football, with players sent out of matches for 10 minutes to punish dissent.

Trials could now take place in professional leagues after they were deemed successful at grassroots and junior level over the past four years.

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Chief executive of Ifab, Lukas Brud, said: “Sin-bins for dissent have worked well in grassroots football, and some believe these could also be tested at a higher level, with trials in more senior football.

“Players may not worry so much about getting a yellow card for saying something inappropriate to a referee, but it can make a big difference if they know it means a tenth of the match off the pitch.

“There is also a lot of interest from different stakeholders for the idea where only the captain can approach the referee in a fair way.

“Players approaching in an aggressive manner simply cannot be tolerated any longer.

“We have even seen on a number of occasions where players deliberately go behind a referee with others coming in front of him so he cannot get away.

“If only the captain can approach the referee, then afterwards he or she can explain to their team-mates what has happened.

“This has worked well in other sports such as rugby and basketball.”