European football chief Michel Platini has called for yellow cards to be replaced by a sin-bin.

The Frenchman wants to see the game follow in the footsteps of both codes of rugby and believes a sin-bin would be a fairer punishment because “that way, the benefit goes to the team he is playing against, in the same match, instead of a sanction by cards which is carried out against a third team, the next on the calendar”.

It’s a rare good idea from the former France international.

And he should go beyond that and call for instant red cards for players who swear at referees – and yellows for those caught spitting on the field.