Coronavirus: New FA rules allow red-card for deliberate coughing

Coronavirus New FA rules allow red-card for deliberate coughing
Coronavirus New FA rules allow red-card for deliberate coughing

The FA have introduced certain regulations for the upcoming season amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

As per reports, the referees can now punish players who deliberately cough near opponents to unsettle them. 

With the virus spreading through cough droplets, it could be used as a tactic by players to get an edge over their opponents and the FA are determined to combat such practices. 

The officials can now book a player for such offences or even send them off depending on the severity of the actions. 

It will be interesting to see how the players behave now. Coughing near players deliberately is not just a silly thing to do; it is quite insensitive as well. 

In a statement released earlier today, the FA said the players will be punished when “the referee is certain someone deliberately, and from close range, coughed into the face of an opponent or match official. If the incident was not severe enough to merit a sending-off, a caution could be issued for ‘unsporting behaviour – shows a lack of respect for the game’.”

The punishment will fall under the section of “using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures.

Meanwhile, the five substitutions rule could be here to stay. The IFAB has given the nod for the leagues to go ahead with the rule change and it will now depend on whether the FA want to implement it in the Premier League again next season.