World Rugby chief Brett Gosper said there would be no change to the hard line on high tackles at the Rugby World Cup and that the number of red cards would decrease once players changed their behaviour.
There were seven red cards shown in the pool phase of this year's tournament – the most recent issued to Ireland's Bundee Aki - compared to one in 2015 and two each at the 2007 and 2011 World Cups.
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Most have been for tackles that made contact with an opponent's head, an offence World Rugby is determined to remove from the game because of the potential for impact-related concussion.
"If there have been red cards shown, it's because there are big issues around player welfare due to foul play whether it's intentional or unintentional," Gosper told reporters.
"And we'll drive that hard line to protect the players and we'll see diminishing red cards because the behaviour of players and coaches will change over time.
"We're willing to risk some outcomes or debates to ensure we police that properly. That's the direction of travel," he added.
The loss of a player to a red card can have a major impact on a team's chances of winning a match, particularly if it happens early on.
Gosper said that systems like that used in Australia's National Rugby League, where offending players are placed "on report" but remain on the pitch had been considered in various committees.
"The feeling is that it's right to punish the team despite the (imbalance) that might be created in the match at that time," he said.
"There are some unions have strong opinions on that both ways. The feeling is that this is one of the things that upholds the values of the game. And the team should take that punishment as well as the player.
Follow Ireland v New Zealand on Saturday 19 October (kick-off 11.15am) via the live blog on RTÉ.ie/Sport and the News Now App, watch live on RTÉ2 or listen to live match commentary on RTÉ Radio 1.
