New yellow card rule will make the grade

UEFA are considering introducing a grading system for yellow cards where players would only face a match ban once they had reached a certain number of penalty points,

At the moment players are automatically suspended for one game at the European Championship finals if they pick up two yellow cards, regardless of the offences involved.

Although yellow cards are wiped from the slate after the group stages, the European governing body pointed out in their Euro 2004 report that Greece midfielder Giorgios Karagounis missed the final after picking up two cautions in the knockout phase.

The UEFA report said a review of the regulations could now take place. It reads: "Is it time to introduce a grading system for yellow cards, with points indicating the gravity of the offence?

"Suspensions could then be pegged to a certain number of points rather than a simple count of yellow cards."

If successful, the idea could become a blueprint for domestic football qualifying campaigns and the World Cup Final.

UEFA also said they are considering answering calls by national coaches this week for a summit of leading clubs and national-team managers to sort out the club-versus-country row over availability of players and fixture congestion.