Ange Postecoglou has hit out at football’s lawmakers over a proposal to trial sin bins in elite-level games, saying there is no need for the changes and blaming VAR for increased levels of dissent.
On Tuesday, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) announced an intention to test temporary dismissals in top-level games, potentially as a punishment for dissent or tactical fouls.
Sin bins were introduced at grassroots level in England from the 2019-20 season, being implemented up to step five of the non-league system and in the third tier of women’s football and below.
The proposal has drawn mixed responses from Premier League bosses, with Sean Dyche telling IFAB to “leave the game alone” and Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta saying it must be tried before any judgements can be made.
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Tottenham’s Postecoglou is firmly against the idea of further rule changes, saying on Friday: “Bin it mate, bin the whole idea. Just forget about it.
“I don’t know why they [IFAB] keep interjecting themselves into the game. There’s not that much wrong with the game.
“I think once they throw an idea like that out, it usually means they’ve already tested the waters. I don’t think there’s a need for it.”
IFAB Annual Business Meeting approves trials to improve participant behaviour in football
➡️ News release: https://t.co/8BVDvamgHc pic.twitter.com/IsSKMS0rkZ
— The IFAB (@TheIFAB) November 28, 2023
The former Celtic boss believes IFAB have been canvassing coaches for their opinions on the potential changes, though he was not among those asked.
“I’d be very surprised if IFAB are putting this out without talking to people, but obviously you’ll get varying opinions,” he said.
“If they were to ask me, I’d be as clear as I have been.
“I’m sure IFAB are doing that and probably finding that my opinion is in the minority. That’s the only reason I assume they are going ahead with these things.”
IFAB is also exploring whether VAR’s remit should be extended to cover other incidents including yellow cards and corners, despite growing fan frustrations about the use of technology in football.
Postecoglou previously said VAR was “diminishing the authority” of referees, and he believes the introduction of technology – and the extra officials required to use it – has contributed to a rise in instances of dissent.
He said: “I think you’re seeing a lot more dissent in the game these days because there’s more a lot more people to dissent to: in the past it was just the referee but [now] you can dissent to the fourth official, you can dissent to the VAR, you can dissent to the head of referees.
“It used to be simple. The authority was with the referee and he could handle it himself. I just don’t think we need to mess with the game too much, but it is what it is.”
Postecoglou’s injury-hit Tottenham side travel to Manchester City for their next Premier League fixture on Sunday, before hosting West Ham in a London derby on Thursday.
Our December schedule ????️ pic.twitter.com/svhaid6LB2
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 1, 2023
