As the expanded FIFA Club World Cup kicks off next month in the United States, clubs heading into the tournament will have more than just tactics and team selection to worry about; disciplinary fines could hit their budgets hard.
FIFA have confirmed that clubs will face significant financial penalties for player and official misconduct during the competition.
A single yellow card will cost a club $12,000, while an indirect red card, resulting from two yellows, will cost $18,000.
A straight red card comes with a heavier price tag of $24,000. Team misconduct, such as multiple bookings in a single match, will also incur a $18,000 fine.
Even off-field behaviour could have consequences, with the use of lasers or flares by fans incurring a $6,000 penalty.
The referee’s authority begins the moment the team steps onto the field for the pre-match inspection and extends through to the final whistle, including any penalty shoot-outs.
If a player or official commits a sending-off offence before kickoff, the referee has the power to prevent them from participating in the match altogether.
Any other incidents that occur before the match starts will also be reported and may be subject to disciplinary action.
FIFA’s regulations for the tournament also state that any player or official who receives two yellow cards in separate matches will be suspended for the next game.
Red cards, whether direct or the result of a second yellow, trigger automatic suspension for the following match and could lead to additional sanctions, including further bans or financial penalties.
However, single yellow cards will be wiped clean after the quarter-finals, giving players a fresh start for the latter stages of the tournament.
Suspensions or bookings from domestic leagues or continental competitions will not carry over into the Club World Cup, nor will cards picked up during the tournament affect eligibility in other competitions once the event concludes.
FKA/MA
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