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 level of the game. The FA chose to focus on matters of dissent to improve the match day experience and in support of the RESPECT programme.

In 2016/17 season there were over 73,000 cautions for dissent – making up around 25% of all cautions. With this in mind we 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 we 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.

This is not a matter for The FA as IFAB only permits the use of Sin Bins at grassroots level. We initially trialled sin bins across various leagues at Step 7 and below, and after a successful trial period we are now rolling it out across all leagues at grassroots level, including at youth level.

The FA governs English football and therefore only implements rules which affect the English game. IFAB only permits the use of sin bins at grassroots level within each National Association. It would be down to the governing bodies and organisations that control those particular European competitions on whether they’d like to implement sin bins.

Yes. From the 2019/20 season, sin bins will be in the third tier of women’s football and below. The trial was also implemented in Tier 5 and below in women’s football.

Dissent – by word or by action – which is a behavioural matter rather than a football matter. By reducing dissent, we hope to improve the retention of referees while improving the image of the game.

Dissent can fall into two categories, either via word or action in the opinion of the referee.

10 minutes in adult football and eight minutes in youth football.

The player is technically in the sin bin the moment he/she is advised he is being cautioned for dissent but the sin bin time begins from the moment play restarts.

It will be timed by the referee.

The referee will monitor these issues simultaneously. Our 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.

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.

Substitutes or substituted players will be cautioned for dissent, as per the ‘usual’ process that currently applies across football. 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.

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. Elsewhere, players must leave the pitch and watch from the touchline with other non-playing staff.

Our 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.

There’s 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.

Yes, sin binned players can leave the sin bin area to warm up.

This may result in further action for misconduct being taken.

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.

Similar to a player who has left the field for treatment for an injury, the player can be waved back onto the field of play by the referee during play.

If a player receives two sin bins but commits no other offence, they can be substituted.

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. 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.

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.

Yes the caution tally would include any sin bin offence.

Players will not be required to pay the administration fee for going into the sin bin as the punishment has already been served during the match for a single sin bin offence. Administration fees will still apply to all other cautions and send offs.

We want to encourage better behaviour to improve the match day experience for everybody involved. This isn’t a financial matter and The FA continues to work with CFAs to ensure they have the resources necessary to support their clubs. Repeat offenders will also be fined £25 as well as a one match ban.