[Don Homer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2279027.stm

I'm clearly muddled tonight! How does this protect the referee's authority more than the current system?

Managers, media, and fans will still be just as abusive if they think the ref over-reacted.

The fact that the player will serve an automatic one match ban even if he lodges an appeal just seems to make the situation worse. Especially, if he then wins that appeal...

[cachundo]

Fifa has enforced a major rule change by announcing that any player who is sent off must serve an immediate one-match ban with no right of appeal.

The ruling, which will be enforced in every league in the world, is aimed at protecting match officials after several cases in which referees' decisions have been undermined.

Red-carded players will miss the next match of the competition in which they were sent off.

The only way a player can escape an automatic one-match ban is if the referee later admits a case of mistaken identity or concedes he made the wrong decision.

The system may be working in your part of the world, but may not be in other parts. Hence, the statement on such a ruling.

[Doctor Stamen]

Septic Bladder just wanted to look like the boss-man again, that's all this is about. I hope this vain fool goes way soon.

[Don Homer]

I had a feeling it might just be smoke and mirrors...

Better see what the left hand is up to, while we're all watching the right one!

[Sachin]

I guess this is designed to protect the referee from political intervention. Crooked appeals committes overturning red cards, etc.

I guess.

Sachin

[badwolf]

FIFA acting again like a military 'Junta'. If this indeed gets into the rule book I hope that in the democratic countries of the world that players contest this in the courts.
In all democracies a person convicted of a crime has the right to appeal.
FIFA will eventually kill itself - hopefully.

[lanman]

The Enlgish FA has already said it will not change it's rules mid-season, and will probably fight any changes at all.

[Mac_Howard]

Nothing undermines authority so much as authority insisting something is right when it has been proved to be wrong. Blatter doesn't understand the difference between authority that comes from respect and that which comes from imposition.

[Metros Striker10]

What does this mean? WC 2002 was rigged. Why? Because now FIFA can do whatever they want, and no body can do anything about it. If they feel a team/country should win or perform well, they can do it.

This has to be one of the dumbest rules of any sport in the world. So if your opponent clearly dives, and you get the red, your not allowed to argue? Too much athority given to the officials. Yeah, like the ref really will admit he was wrong.

[Doctor Stamen]

Sepp Bladder is a great guy.