Sin Bin – Frequently asked Questions Answered

The mandatory rule change will be implemented up to Step 5 of the National League System and Tier 3 and below in women’s football. Sin bins of 10 minutes will be issued at the discretion of referees as punishment for dissent, and will apply to all levels of grassroots football, including youth, veterans, and disability.

Visit our helpful online guide to learn more:

VISIT SIN BINS ONLINE GUIDE

Read our informative FAQs across the various topics below to know more about sin bins:

Why and what are sin bins for?

Why has The FA introduced sin bins into grassroots football?

Has it been trialled? I assume the trial was successful? Has it seen an improvement in

player behaviour?

Are there plans to introduce sin bins in the professional game?

Will it be taken up by European and/or international competitions?

Is it in the women’s game as well?

For what offences would a player get sent to the sin bin for?

OK, so what is dissent?

Timings

How long are you sin binned for?

When does the sin bin time start? From the moment the referee shows the card or from the moment the player leaves the field of play?

How is the sin bin timed?

How are the timings going to work if the referee has more than one player in the sin bin?

The card

Does a sin binned player still get shown a card? If so, is it a yellow card or a different colour?

If a substitute, or substituted player, or a manager/coach commits an act of dissent, what happens?

What happens when players leave or re-enter the field of play?

Is there an actual ‘bin’? Where does a sin binned player go?

How many players can be in the sin bin at one time?

Can a sin binned player leave the sin bin area?

What happens if a player commits an offence while leaving the field of play?

What happens if a player commits an offence whilst in the sin bin?

How does a player come back on after the 10 minutes is up? Is it at the next break in play? Or are they waved on during play, similar to a player who has left the field for treatment of an injury?

Discipline and fines

Can you be sin binned more than once in a match?

What happens if the goalkeeper commits an act of dissent? Do they also go in to the Sin Bin? Who can replace them?

At the end of the sin bin time, can the team bring on a substitute for the sin binned player?

Does the sin bin yellow card count towards a players’ seasonal tally of yellow cards?

Does a player still have to pay the yellow card fine if they’re sent to the sin bin?

USEFUL RESOURCES

Sin bins infographic 572.8KB (PDF)

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