England։ Players can be red carded for deliberate coughingAugust 5, 2020 - 11:56 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Footballers who deliberately cough towards an opponent could receive a red card under new Covid-19 guidelines published by the English Football Association (FA), CNN reports. The measures, published last week, apply to the restart of grassroots football in England amid the coronavirus pandemic. Players can be sent off if the referee is "certain that someone deliberately, and from close range, coughed into the face of an opponent or match official," according to the guidelines, which will come into force immediately. "Given the current situation relating to Covid-19, if a player deliberately coughed in the face of another player, team official or match official, this could be deemed to fall within the Law 12 sending-off offense of 'using offense, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures,'" said a spokesperson from the International Football Association Board, the sport's law-making body. "As with all offenses, the referee has to make a judgement about the true nature of the offense -- if it were clearly accidental, then the referee would not take action nor if the 'cough' took place with a large distance between the players. "However, where it is close enough to be clearly offensive, then the referee can take action. This is not a new 'rule' but simply an interpretation of Law 12." The guidelines add that referees "should not be looking to punish 'routine' coughing." A yellow card could also be issued if the incident is not deemed serious enough to warrant a sending-off. Players and referees are both also encouraged to avoid spitting and shouting, and it advised that physical contact as part of goal celebrations should be avoided. Top stories Armenian gymnast, Olympic bronze medalist Artur Davtyan has reached the finals of the World Cup. Gor Manvelyan has denied reports alleging that he has expressed a desire to one day play for the French national team. Roma midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan is not considering FC Spartak Moscow as his next haven, according to fresh reports. 10 Armenian lifters will compete in the 2021 World Championships scheduled to be held from 7 to 17 December in Tashkent. Partner news | Czech-Armenian military cooperation discussed in Yerevan A delegation led by the Director General for the Industrial Cooperation Division of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic visited Armenia. U.S. welcomes efforts to define Armenia-Azerbaijan border The United States welcomes efforts to define the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, says Vedant Patel. Biden honors resilience of Armenian people on April 24 U.S. President Joe Biden has issued a statement on the 109th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Ex-Karabakh leader moved to solitary confinement cell in Baku, his son says David Vardanyan is the son of former Karabakh leader Ruben Vardanyan who who is currently imprisoned in Azerbaijan. |