Chelsea legend John Terry debates whether SIN BINS should be brought into football... but fans warn the 'nonsense' idea would only cause MORE controversy

Chelsea icon John Terry has raised the debate as to whether football should follow rugby's lead and introduce a sin bin. 

If a player is shown a yellow card in rugby they head off the pitch and have to sit in a pitchside 'sin bin' for 10 minutes before returning to the action. Two yellow cards, like football, triggers an automatic red. 

Now, Terry asked his 673,000 followers on X, formerly Twitter, if it is about time football brought sin bins in, despite his own reservations.

'Sin bins in football? I'm so intrigued to hear everyone's thoughts on this?' Terry said. 

'I personally don't like it because the level of tolerance and inconsistencies from referees will differ every week!'

Terry's post soon generated a wave of responses, most of which strongly disliked the idea of adding further jobs for referees to manage. 

Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher is not totally sold on sin bins but believes the Premier League needs to do something to reduce the number of red cards.

'I’ve never been a fan of sin bins before, but we are watching too many games that have red cards & for me it ruins the game,' Carragher said.

'A couple of instances this season were something feels more than a yellow but a red feels harsh are Marcus Rashford & Curtis Jones.

'Also a lot of people were not happy with yellow for Havertz/Guimares but I wouldn’t want red for those so the orange card could be the sin bin.'

Fans were more on Terry's side, rather than that of Carragher 

One wrote: 'Just going to cause more controversy really , should that be yellow red amber etc, not a fan of it.'

A second said: 'What’s wrong with a yellow card @JohnTerry26?

'If that bad a straight red. Why are “they” continually looking to change “our” game. Drives me bonkers.'

A third added: 'I do not think it is a good idea. Football is a game of emotions. Cannot ruin an important game or a cup final by forcing a team to play with 10 men. 5 mins with a player less, makes a huge difference.

'Answer to anything should not always be - "more laws or rules"!!'

A fourth said: 'Personally don't see the sin bin idea working. And I agree that having the refs managing each different doesn't help. 

'All refs need to be handing and managing the game the same way. Full agree with only captains speaking to the ref.'

Terry's question came after football's lawmakers recommended introducing sin bins for cynical fouls and dissent following success using them at grassroots level.

As part of IFAB's recommendation only captains would be allowed to approach a referee during matches, too. 

The proposals were revealed at an IFAB meeting in London on Tuesday and now they are subject to approval at their Annual General Meeting in March 2024.