In many areas, football has changed beyond recognition over the years; in some areas it has remained very similar. The fundamental essence of the game has remained, interpretations have differed. The game has been modernised with nets, and assistants, substitutions, offsides, fourth officials, scoreboards, chicken balti pies and so on.

Ken Aston, himself a referee in the 1960s, was the man responsible for inventing red and yellow cards. They were first used by FIFA during the 1970 World Cup. On the trip, punctuated by many traffic lights, Aston realised that a colour coding scheme on the same amber (steady) – red (stop) principle as used on traffic lights would traverse language barriers and clarify to players and spectators that they had been cautioned or sent off (thank you wikipedia). Thus was devised the system whereby referees show a yellow card for a caution and a red card for an expulsion. Players had been cautioned previously, but there was no visual confirmation of the punishment, the player was just told by the referee.

It was a great jump forward, a great idea by Aston. Astonishing that no one had thought of it before, but great nevertheless.

But isn’t it now time we moved with the times and introduced a new system of cards?

Yellow and red cards are no longer good enough in my opinion. It is a system that is not fit for purpose. A cynical tackle from behind merits the same punishment as putting your shirt over your head when scoring a goal. Leaving the pitch without permission is treated the same as some borderline red card offences, which is treated the same as taking too long to take a goal kick. Meanwhile, two missed tackles can mean the same as deliberately elbowing an opponent in the head.

Cards were introduced in simpler times. No edicts about celebrating goals, leaving the perimeter of the pitch, dissent, feigning injuries or questioning the parentage of the match officials. Players were allowed to get away with much more; many tackles that brought a tear to your eye didn’t even merit a free kick. Dismissals were really earned! It might make matters more confusing, but thankfully Graham Poll has retired so there’s a good chance that mistakes will be avoided.

The laws of football are simple when compared to other sports, a 50 page document where other sports have rulebooks covering thousands of pages. This is good, and I would never advocate wholesale changes to the game. But laws need to move with the times, and I’m surprised at the lack of discussion on whether the current system is good enough.

Afterall, when the laws were first drawn up in December 1863, they contained some of the following rules:

The maximum length of the ground shall be 200 yards (180 m), the maximum breadth shall be 100 yards (91 m), the length and breadth shall be marked off with flags; and the goal shall be defined by two upright posts, eight yards (7 m) apart, without any tape or bar across them.
After a goal is won, the losing side shall be entitled to kick off, and the two sides shall change goals after each goal is won.
A goal shall be won when the ball passes between the goal-posts or over the space between the goal-posts (at whatever height), not being thrown, knocked on, or carried.
If a player makes a fair catch, he shall be entitled to a free kick, providing he claims it by making a mark with his heel at once; and in order to take such kick he may go back as far as he pleases, and no player on the opposite side shall advance beyond his mark until he has kicked.
No player shall run with the ball.

The Laws of the Game are now written by the International Football Association Board who meet at least once a year to debate and decide any changes to the text as it exists at that time. So there are always things being changed, even if the fundamental principles remain.

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