The game of soccer is a sport whose beauty comes from the simplicity of play. Therefore, rule changes or modifications are fairly uncommon. However, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) International Board is implicating two slight changes in the red card rule, which will start in the 2016 United European Football Association (UEFA) European Championship, more commonly known as Euro 16. This is the international men’s football championship of Europe organized by UEFA. The Euros are held every four years, and this year, they will take place in France. Twenty-four teams representing 24 countries will compete, and the new implications to the red card rule will come into effect.

A red card differs slightly within each sport but usually signifies a serious offense that one or more players commit. In soccer, this results in an immediate ejection from the game and the offending team that received the red card must continue the remainder of the game with only 10 players rather than 11. Yellow cards are given as a caution, but the offending player may continue playing for the rest of the game. A red card can also result from two yellow cards in the same match. To signal a red card, a referee will hold the card up for all players and spectators to see and then write down the player’s name or number, the reason for the card, and the time in the game the offense occurred.

The first change in the red card rule is that if an attacking player has a breakaway, the last man on defense will not receive a red card for fouling the opposing player unless it is violent or involves a handball in the penalty box. Previously, a referee would use their judgement to give a red card depending on how much the foul impacts the play. With the new rule implication, as long as the referee judges that the defender makes an honest attempt at going for the ball, they will only be penalized with a yellow card. For example, when one team has a counterattack in a one-on-one situation against the other team’s last defender, the defender will not be presented with a red card if they go for the ball but foul the opposite team’s attacking player in the process. Now, players will be more willing to foul in the event of a counterattack without fear of being ejected and forcing their team to play with one less athlete on the field.

The second alteration to the red card involves the penalty for a player committing a handball foul. Once Euro 16 starts, handballs in open play will not result in the booking of yellow or red cards unless they impact significant plays. Although it mostly impacts the way defenders play the game, it brings little change to offenders’ perspectives. They still have only the job of attacking the opposite team’s goal in mind and do not need to adjust the way they play around this new rule.

Although the changes might be small, it can be advantageous for those who watch or play soccer very tactfully. In addition, with the 2016 Summer Olympics Games in Rio rapidly approaching, one can watch how the professionals play and see how well the referees and soccer players follow and understand FIFA’s new rules.