The trial to implement blue cards into football has reportedly been delayed after huge backlash.
Football lawmakers are said to be 'spooked' by the reaction caused by the proposal which was leaked on Thursday.
An announcement was set to be made on Friday that blue cards would be trialled at an elite level, with the Football Association considering volunteering the FA Cup and Women's FA Cup next season.
But the Telegraph now claims those plans have been blocked after an extraordinary reaction.
Blue cards in football have been delayed after huge backlash to the proposals
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The same newspaper revealed on Thursday that the International Football Association Board (IFAB) had agreed to implement a blue card.
Players given a blue card would be sin-binned for a period of 10 minutes, similar to the style used in rugby.
Sin-bins have been used in some levels of grassroots football in England for several years.
The punishment had so far been reserved for dissent towards a match official.
However, the agreement which was set to be announced was to see blue cards also given for cynical fouls, as well as dissent.
But there has been a huge backlash from those within football following the reports - and the trial has now been thrown into doubt entirely.
It is claimed lawmakers are 'spooked' with how negative the reaction has been to their planned changes.
The announcement will no longer happen on Friday and the topic will go back to discussion at an AGM.
FIFA released a statement late on Thursday which said the introduction of blue cards at an elite level was premature.
It read: "FIFA wishes to clarify that reports of the so-called ‘blue card’ at elite levels of football are incorrect and premature.
"Any such trials, if implemented, should be limited to testing in a responsible manner at lower levels, a position that FIFA intends to reiterate when this agenda item is discussed at the IFAB AGM on 2 March."
Initial reports said that players who received two blue cards in a match, or a combination of a yellow and a blue, would be sent off.
It would be the first new card brought into football since the advent of yellow and reds at the 1970 World Cup.
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Gareth Southgate said football didn't need a new blue card
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England boss Gareth Southgate has been one of the critics, claiming football works well without the need of a new card.
Southgate told Sky Sports: "I would have said the game has worked quite well for a long time.
"I know, I suppose we always have to modernise with certain things. But, yeah, I'd have to really understand how that was going to work before I could give a really strong view.
"If discipline's bad you send players off! That's quite simple really."
Blue cards will not be introduced into the Premier League just yet
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Newcastle manager Eddie Howe has also claimed blue cards would just add confusion to the game.
He said: "I’m not a big fan to be honest. That’s what yellow cards are for.
"The current system works well but just needs to be applied right.
"A blue card would just add more confusion, in my opinion."
