'More opportunities to fail' - Jurgen Klopp hits out at potential introduction of blue card

Jurgen Klopp has suggested that the introduction of blue cards in football for sin-bins "doesn't sound like a fantastic idea", insisting that it would give officials "more opportunities to fail". 

Recent reports have suggested that blue cards are likely to be trialled in English football by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), allowing referees the opportunity to sin-bin players for ten minutes following a cynical foul or show of dissent.

Sin-bins have already been trialled in amateur and youth football games, with a player sent off for the remainder of the game if they receive two blue cards.

However, FIFA refuted suggestions that these changes are imminent, claiming "any trials, if implemented, should be limited to testing in a responsible manner at lower levels."

Jurgen Klopp was quizzed about his thoughts on the introduction of blue cards during his pre-match press conference, with the 56-year-old not excited by their potential arrival in the game.

"We should keep it as simple as somehow possible for the referees," said Klopp. "It's a difficult job, we all know that. We're often quite emotional when we speak about it because it's most often after the game.

"I think the introduction of a new card would just give [referees] more opportunities to fail as well because the discussion will be if a blue card should have been a yellow card, now it's ten minutes off.

He added: "It just makes it more complicated. They want to test it, I have no problem with testing, but if that's the first step to agreeing or already being sure it will happen, but I don't know that to be honest.

"It doesn't sound like a fantastic idea in the first moment, but actually I can't remember when the last fantastic idea came from these guys [IFAB]."

Mauricio Pochettino, Ange Postecoglou and Eddie Howe are among the top Premier League bosses to have shared Klopp's sentiments regarding the implementation of blue cards.

While the overhaul would not occur in the near future, there are plenty of problems regarding the standard of officiating in this country to deal with before the introduction of blue cards.