RUFC - Is it time for sin bins in football?

I see in the news today that the International Football Association Board are going to discuss the use of 'sin bins' for yellow card offences, at this months meeting.

Sin Bins aren't new - Ice Hockey and Rugby have used them for some years now - but is it time for them to be introduced into football?

In 2003 several national associations urged FIFA to put forward the idea of sin bins and FIFA spokesman Andreas Herren said, that although he thought it would be useful at Youth events he didn't see it being introduced across the board at that stage. And it wasn't. Eighteen months later the subject was broached again with the Football League initiating the talks and again nothing seemed to be done about it. So, some four years later, is it now time to made a decision and say 'yes' or 'no' to sin bins?

I don't know about you but I find it somewhat frustrating to go to a game and see a player get booked for two trivial offences which results in him leaving the field for the remainder of the game. To me, this is what sort of thing sin bins could be used for - ten minutes to cool off. And what about penalty decisions. A player loses his cool for a minute, sticks out a leg and over goes the opponent in the area for a penalty with the culprit often getting a red card. If it's a first offence and he's not endangered the player then a few minutes off the field as well as the penalty, in my opinion, would be punishment enough.

On the other hand, I suppose, there are some players who could use the sin bin for a 'ten minute break' and come back on more refreshed.

Of course, it needs a lot of thinking out - there would have to be an official time keeper and perhaps an official in the sin bin area.

But - what do you think - would it work?

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