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Players will still be suspended if they pick up two yellow cards within the qualifying batch of fixtures Fifa is poised to change the rules around suspensions for accumulated yellow cards at this summer's World Cup. BBC Sport understands world football's governing body is planning to add a second amnesty stage, wiping all yellow cards at the end of the group stage as well as after the quarter-finals. Under current rules a team would play five matches to reach the quarter-finals, and any two bookings in those games would lead to a suspension. The revamped World Cup, with 48 teams instead of 32, includes an extra round and it is felt the jeopardy for a ban is too high. Without a change to the regulations, Fifa fears that many more players would be walking a suspension tightrope by playing six fixtures through to the last eight - and potentially miss a semi-final. It is felt that two cut-offs are fairer - and less likely to result in suspensions for key games - than increasing the number of cards required for a ban to three. The topic is on the agenda for discussion when the Fifa Council meets in Vancouver, Canada on Tuesday. Two bookings will remain the suspension threshold, but the rule change will mean there are only two small pockets of games for players to pick up a ban. It would require cautions in two of the three group games, or in two of the last 32, last 16 and the quarter-finals, to miss a match. Follow your club with BBC Sport Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast Get football news sent straight to your phone Comments can not be loaded To load Comments you need to enable Java Script in your browser Man Utd beat Brentford to close in on Champions League return Joshua signs deal to fight Fury - Hearn Greaves becomes first female PDC title winner A darkly comic story of passion, heartbreak and love Uncanny returns with cold cases and fresh perspectives An icon's extraordinary story from child prodigy to global star A medieval map of the mind through the Seven Deadly Sins Who will win the Champions League? Place your vote Man Utd survive Brentford fightback to earn crucial win. Video Man Utd survive Brentford fightback to earn crucial win Lighter than a bar of soap - the shoes worn to shatter marathon record Four ways to tackle football's frustrating 'tactical timeout' Who had 'sliding doors moment'? Deeney's team of the week Rangers blink but twists still to come in colossal title race How special Sawe broke iconic sub-two-hour barrier Could a Premier League club lose their European place once again? The winners & losers from the 2026 NFL Draft Running 100 marathons in 100 days - fuelled by an Indian hedge 'obsession' How to follow Miami Grand Prix on the BBC Hire, fire, final - Chelsea's player power may be ugly, but it wins Sawe runs sub-two-hour marathon in London Video Sawe runs sub-two-hour marathon in London Assefa breaks her own world record to win London Marathon. Video Assefa breaks her own world record to win London Marathon Arsenal 'on a mission' - is another special season on the horizon? Why Rashford must be patient over Barcelona future How Lineker and Neville became rival media moguls Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.
