FIFA World Cup 2010 – FIFA Introduces new yellow card rule so that the fans can watch the top guns play.
Since 1930, FIFA has not changed many of its rules when it comes to the physical or verbal play on the field. Many players have violated the laws of football and earned themselves yellow and red cards; some, deserved while the others, not well deserved. Yet, FIFA does not take back its decisions or its rules and it has always been a solid body when it comes to deciding the rules for the game.
This year, however, they have decided to favour the big players by changing the rules of the yellow card. It has always been this way, that, if a player receives a yellow card in the first game and then receives another yellow card in the second game then he is not going to play the third game. The same way as a player would not be allowed to play the final if he got a yellow card in the quarter final, and the semi final. However, in this World Cup FIFA has decided to change the rules for the fans. People supporting stars like Christiano Ronaldo, Ricardo Kaka, Lionel Messi and David Villa would not really like the site where their favourite player is being sent off. Therefore, FIFA has reshuffled the rules in such a way that the players are saved in the Semi-Final.
One cannot forget about the suspension which Michael Ballack faced in the Final of the FIFA World Cup 2002. It was the time when the Germans needed their most in-form player and he had to stay on the side-line and watch the match and not actually be on the field to play it. Since then, FIFA had decided to favour the big names. Thus, FIFA has made a new regulation which states that a player would be clear of his previous bookings once he enters the Semi-Final. Meaning, even if a player is booked with a yellow card in the semi final, he will not be missing the final of the World Cup.
Sadly, this rule took a lot of time to be perfectly applied. If it was out before, many of the finals of the FIFA World Cup would have been a different site for the fans. No one can forget how the Italian star Paul Gascoigne was booked in the semi final of the FIFA World Cup 1990, and he could not be a part of the final.
FIFA has generally made this change because of the fact that Ballack was ruled out of the World Cup Final in 2006. The FIFA spokesperson Marius Schneider said:
“FIFA simply said we want to give the best players a chance to play in the final. The discussion first came up when Ballack was ruled out.”
Looking back at the history of the FIFA World Cups and how the big players have missed the finals, no one can forget how Italy's Alessandro Costacurta was yellow carded in the semi final of the FIFA World Cup 1994, and was suspended from the Final and could not be a part of it. Secondly, Argentina's Claudio Caniggia in FIFA World Cup 1990 was a sad site for the Argentinean fans as well. He got booked during the last 10 minutes of the match and could not be a part of the greatest stage, the final itself. He was one of the reasons why Argentina lost the final, and not forgetting the red card their team received.
FIFA has obviously favoured all the big players after releasing this rule. They have seen how the fans lose the excitement in the final game when their favourite player is not a part of it. None of the Argentinean fans would want Lionel Messi to miss out the final if he is a part of it. Neither would a Brazilian fan want to see Ricardo Kaka miss out the final.
In the FIFA World Cup 2010, for now, the famous players who have already booked with a yellow or a red card are; Miroslav Klose, the German star who has an amazing ability to head the ball from inside the box got two yellow cards in a match against Serbia. Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal, who is the favourite player of many football fans around the world today because of his amazing individual skills and free kicks. Lastly, Ricardo Kaka of Brazil, who was sent off from the field after he got two yellow cards in a match against Ivory Coast.
This new regulation by FIFA has not only made this World Cup more exciting, but gave the fans a good reason to follow it to the finals. The reason being that almost any star playing the semi final would also be included in the final, only if he does not receive a red card or two yellow cards on the same night.
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