In New Zealand the national body adds an extra kick in the guts in the form of a $25 fine per yellow card ($50 for a red) which costs amateur clubs - many struggling financially - thousands of dollars a year.
UEFA (Europe's governing football body) submitted a proposal to soften what many fans, players and officials believe is far too draconian a sanction, by suggesting that in the instance of a player deliberately preventing a goalscoring opportunity, the sanction should be a yellow card rather than a red one.
However, the yellow card idea was rejected after a heated debate by the law-making body, with the Fifa board instead deciding to recommend doing away with the automatic one-game ban. The changes, if approved, will take effect from July 1.
But Uefa reckon the international board has missed the point, with the key problem being the mandatory sanction of a red card, which in many cases is too harsh and often kills the game as a contest.
But while a lighter forfeit would likely be welcomed by most clubs in New Zealand, the real crowd pleaser would be for New Zealand Football to drop their automatic fines - with no right of appeal - which take much needed money out of the clubs that need it the most.
Some may argue that the fines assist funding the grassroots game. But any administrative body that needs to budget on taxing on-field misdemeanours to make ends meet has got its financial priorities upside down.
In Europe former Portugal legend and Fifa presidential candidate Luis Figo has championed the move to amend the triple punishment.
For us Kiwis it's even worse. Particularly for lower-level clubs, having a player sent off, conceding a penalty, losing him for a couple of weeks - and incurring a fine - is a ridiculous price to pay for a lack of pace and a bit much testosterone.
But who in New Zealand is prepared to do a Figo and lead the fight for more sensible sentencing in football?
Three things:
Papua New Guinea awarded FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup
I don't think anyone saw this one coming. Other than David Chung, the Papua New Guinea Football Association President and OFC President. What an opportunity for PNG, and what a lot of work they must have done to get their stadiums and infrastructure up to FIFA standards.
In 2004, Port Moresby received the dubious honour of being named the world's least liveable city by The Economist. Uncoverdiscover.com website lists Port Moresby as the world's seventh most dangerous city (despite it only having a population of 350,000), with an average of four rapes a week. Good luck to the female squads.
Phoenix on fire
Top of the league by four points and a joy to watch, the Phoenix are now second favourites to win the A-League with the TAB at $4-1. Let's hope the international break this weekend, where the Phoenix lose six players, doesn't derail their momentum.
Auckland City won't lose
The defending ASB Premiership champs have one foot in the final after beating Waitak 2-0 in the first leg of the semi-finals, and play with the structure, discipline and class of a side far too good for any rivals. How has coach Ramon Tribulietx not gone pro yet?
