IFAB confirms it will discuss instituting sin bins at March meeting

Football's lawmaking body, The International Football Association Board (IFAB), confirmed that it will look at sin bins for yellow-card offences, among other law changes, in its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in March.

The IFAB consists of FIFA and the FAs of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and is responsible for the final verdict on rule changes.

According to a statement on the IFAB's website, "the proposal to allow temporary dismissals (sin bins) in youth, veterans, disability, and grassroots football for yellow-card offences will be considered following tests in UEFA’s development competitions over the last three years."

While the IFAB did not specify any timeline for when the sin-bin rule could come in to effect, BBC Sport claims that if the proposal is approved, the change could be introduced in the professional game within two-to-three years.

Other law changes to be discussed at the AGM include allowing national football associations the freedom to modify the number of substitutions, and the length of play.

"Additional agenda items include an update on experiments with the Law 12 change to the punishment for some denial of a goal-scoring opportunities as well as fourth substitutes in extra time; both changes are currently being trialled," the statement read.

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The decision to include these rule changes in the AGM comes after FIFA chief technical officer Marco van Basten revealed his intention to transform the game by modifying rules surrounding yellow cards and substitutions.

The IFAB will also continue to explore the feasibility of video assistant referees (VARs).

"The AGM will receive updates on the completion of the first phase of experiments including reports from the workshops held and more than 20 test matches organised to test the VAR protocols which were approved one year ago," the statement confirmed.

"The AGM will receive detailed information on the key learning areas which will be incorporated into the ‘live’ experiments which will start in almost 20 competitions from around the world in 2017."