What is the new sin bin law in football?
Football Queensland (FQ) will be introducing temporary dismissals, known as sin bins, to help tackle inappropriate behaviour in grassroots football games. Referees will be able to send players off the pitch for 5-10 minutes (depending on the length of the match) as punishment for dissent only towards the referee or assistant referees.
Why has FQ introduced sin bins into community football?
In March 2017, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) gave all National Associations the ability to implement Temporary Dismissals – more commonly known as sin bins – at the grassroots football, including youth, veterans and disability level of the game. In the 2019/20 Laws of the Game book FFA have said that the only cautionable offence for which a player can be temporarily dismissed is dissent.
Has Sin Bin been trialled?
In 2016/17 season, there were over 73,000 cautions for dissent – making up around 25% of all cautions. With this in mind the FA decided to pilot sin bins across all types of the game at Step 5 and below of the National League System and Tier 3 and below of the Women’s game in a bid to reduce levels of dissent. In total, 31 leagues have used the system over the past two seasons. During this period the FA saw a 38% reduction in dissent across the selected leagues. It also showed a reduction on dismissals for receiving a second caution in a game and abusive language. A survey carried out to obtain feedback from around 1,400 users showed that:
- 72% of players wanted to continue with sin bins;
- 77% of managers/Coaches wanted to continue with sin bins;
- 84% of referees wanted to continue with sin bins
The pilot has shown that participant behaviour / match day experience has improved. It also showed players self-policing the game to prevent their colleagues from getting into trouble.
Source: The FA
How do sin bins work?
Sin bins will be issued at the discretion of referees as punishment for dissent towards the referee or assistant referees, and will apply to all levels of grassroots football, including youth, veterans and disability. For 90-minute games, a player will be sin-binned for ten (10) minutes, and five (5) minutes for games under 60-minutes.
What offences can a player be sent to the sin bin for?
Dissent by word or by action.
What is dissent?
Dissent can fall into two categories, either via word or action in the opinion of the referee and towards the referee or assistant referees.
Who can be sent to the Sin Bin?
Sin Bins yellow cards will be issued at the discretion of referees as punishment for dissent towards the referee or assistant referees. It can only be administered to active players who are participating in the game and on the field of play.
Can a goalkeeper be sin binned?
Yes, goalkeepers are covered under the same law as other players and can go into the sin bin. Upon returning, if during play, the goalkeeper can become an outfield player, and then return to being the goalkeeper during the next stoppage in play. The replacement goalkeeper must be clearly identifiable.
Can a coach or team official or substitutes in the tech area be sin binned for dissent?
No, coaches, team official or substitutes in the tech area will be cautioned for dissent, as per the ‘usual’ process that currently applies across football (Not sin binned). As from this season, the laws have been amended for red and yellow cards to also be applied to technical area occupants – but this is separate to the sin bin process.
How long are you sin binned for?
Ten (10) minutes in adult football and five (5) minutes in youth football under 60 minutes.
When does the sin bin time start?
From the moment, the referee shows the card or from the moment the player leaves the field of play. The player is technically in the sin bin the moment he/she is advised he is being cautioned for dissent but the time in the sin bin begins from the moment play restarts.
How are the timings going to work if the referee has more than one player in the sin bin?
The referee will monitor these issues simultaneously. The research of over 135,000 matches showed that less than 1% of matches have more than three cautions for dissent. The chances of those
occurring in the same 10-minute period are remote. However, by following the correct caution procedure, the referee can manage multiple players in the sin bin.
Does a sin-binned player still get shown a card? If so, is it a yellow card or a different colour?
All cautions for dissent must be dealt with by the sin bin process. The referee will signal this by issuing a yellow card in the normal way and pointing to the touchline where the player must go. It
can only be administered to active players who are participating in the game and on the field of play.
If a substitute, substituted player, or a manager/coach commits an act of dissent, what happens?
Substitutes or substituted players will be cautioned for dissent, as per the ‘usual’ process that currently applies across football (Not sin binned). As from this season the laws have been amended for red and yellow cards to also be applied to technical area occupants – but this is separate to the sin bin process.
Is there an actual ‘bin’? Where does a sin-binned player go?
There isn’t a physical sin bin. In grounds where there are technical areas, the player in question must go to their team’s technical area
How many players can be in the sin bin at one time?
There is no limit on the amount of players that can be in the sin bin at any one time. If a team is reduced to less than seven players due to sin bins, the game will be abandoned as covered under the
current Law.
Can a sin-binned player leave the sin bin area?
Yes, sin binned players can leave the sin bin area to warm up.
What happens if a player commits an offence while leaving the field of play?
This may result in further action for misconduct being taken.
What happens if a player commits an offence whilst in the sin bin?
The player would receive either another yellow card or, if serious, a red card. The player will not be able to resume play and would not be permitted to be substituted.
How does a player come back on after the 10 minutes is up?
Similar to a player who has left the field for treatment for an injury, the player can only re-enter the field of play with the referees permission and it can be during play.
Can you be sin binned more than once in a match?
If a player receives two sin bins but commits no other offence, they can be substituted. Only upon completion of the second sin bin period.
What happens if the goalkeeper commits an act of dissent?
Yes, goalkeepers are covered under the same law as other players and can go into the sin bin. Much like when a goalkeeper is sent off, any other player must go in goal but the team must remain with 10 players. The replacement goalkeeper must be clearly identifiable. Upon returning, if during play, the goalkeeper can become an outfield player, and then return to being the goalkeeper during the next stoppage in play.
At the end of the sin bin time, can the team bring on a substitute for the sin binned player?
Yes, at the end of the sin bin time, a substitute can take their place rather than the player in question returning to the pitch, providing they have not used all of their allocated substitutions.
Does the sin bin yellow card count towards a players’ seasonal tally of yellow cards?
Yes the caution tally would include any sin bin offence.
Does a team still have to pay the team (5) yellow card fine if they’re sent to the sin bin?
Teams will be required to pay the administration fee for 5 yellow cards in any one game. Sin Bin yellow cards do go towards the total. Administration fees will still apply to all send offs. We want to encourage better behaviour to improve the match day experience for everybody involved. This isn’t a financial matter and FQ continues to work with Zones to ensure they have the resources necessary to support their clubs.
