BLACK CARD - NEW DISCIPLINARY MEASURE AT YOUTH COMPETITIONS

BUCHAREST, SEPTEMBER 11 /SRNA/ - The Romanian Football Federation has introduced a new disciplinary measure at youth-level matches, with referees now able to show a black card in cases of serious inappropriate behavior by parents and spectators.

The measure can lead to the permanent abandonment of a match and applies to competitions for players aged seven to 16, Romanian media reported. The decision was adopted today by the Emergency Committee of the Romanian Football Federation and represents a direct response to problems with spectator behavior at youth matches. Romania has thus become the first country whose football federation has introduced a card specifically intended to sanction inappropriate behavior in the stands. "Children must not be victims of the ambitions, pressure or frustrations of adults in the stands," the federation said. It stressed that violent behavior by parents not only affects the course of a match, but can also have serious consequences for children and the entire team. The Romanian federation tightened its disciplinary policy for similar offenses as early as 2024. At the time, fines ranging from 2,000 to 4,000 euros were introduced, along with license suspensions lasting from one to three years.