Corona Virus Pandemic, FA assigns a Red Card Penalty Rules for players Coughing on the Field

DBasia.news – The English Football Federation (FA) will issue new rules to regulate the behavior of footballers during the corona virus pandemic. Next season, the players can no longer cough carelessly on the field.

Coughing has become one of the means of the spread of the corona virus. That happens when droplets (of saliva) from people who have the virus affect other people.

This is the concern of the FA. They don’t want a player’s careless behavior to endanger others.

The FA immediately formalized this new rule and applied it at all levels of the competition. They will also issue guidelines for referees regarding the punishment for the violation.

“When the referee believes that someone intentionally, and at close range coughed into the face of an opponent or match official, the referee must take action under Article 12,” the FA document states.

Article 12 in question contains the use of language or movements that are offensive, insulting and abusive. That means coughing is now considered a form of provocation.

Later, players will only be given a card if they intentionally cough at the opponent. The level of intent can also be a determinant of the card the referee must issue.

If the cough towards the opponent is done on purpose and clearly visible, then the referee can immediately issue a red card. This is considered as bad as offensive speech or gestures.

As for the usual cough, the referee does not need to issue a card. This is considered to not be a violation.

Indiscriminate coughing is not the first specific rule in a pandemic. Previously, players were also prohibited from spitting while competing.