SUMMARY
- One of the most important segments in the game of soccer is the red and yellow cards.
- While the yellow card is shown as a warning to the players for the foul committed, the red is shown to send a player off the pitch.
The sport of soccer has different kinds of rules for the players playing on the field. One of the most important segments of the sport is the Red and yellow cards shown to the players for misbehavior or rash gameplay.
Players who misbehave will be given a warning (shown by a yellow card) or removed from the pitch (sent off) (shown by a red card). A player who is sent off can not be reinstated; their team must proceed with one fewer player for the duration of the match.
My next special moment from @CONIFAOfficial #WFC2018 (2/10): The first player booked with a green card in the football history – by the first referee from Africa (Matabeland) in a #CONIFA tournament – Raymond was part of @CoF_eV ref team 2. Game: @PadaniaFA vs. @tuvalufriends pic.twitter.com/6RfIDyXV6v
— Confederation of Football e.V. (@CoF_eV) June 18, 2018
However, while officiating Sporting Lisbon’s match versus Benfica in January 2023, a referee created history by issuing the first green card ever. To encourage fair play during games, the green card was created. The intention behind its construction was to encourage moral principles in sports.
When was the first green card used in soccer?
In June 2018, a tournament for international teams not affiliated with FIFA, called the CONICA World Soccer Cup saw the first-ever use of a green card by a referee. This shocked the soccer community as a new card was introduced to the sport for the first time and was brought into action.
DID YOU KNOW?
There’s a green card in football?
Yes, there’s one but it is not as prominent as the other 2 cards we know.
In 2018 ConIFA World cup tournament for non-FIFA members in London, green card was used as a disciplinary measure in between ….Thread. pic.twitter.com/2A0kJJSLiU
— iMake designs ✨️ (@_SMB_Jhosh) March 21, 2020
A Padania player was given the green card by the referee, who then blew his whistle to end play and gave him the order to leave the field. The referee seemed to raise his hands in a “talking too much” gesture. The player who received a green card needed to be replaced, according to the green card rule.
What is a green card in soccer for?
The Italian Series B League decided to award players who played fairly in 2016. They would be rewarded with green cards, and the person who ended up with the most would be given a final honor. After assisting a referee in changing a call, a player quickly received a green card.
At first, the referee informed Vicenza Calcio’s Cristian Galano that they were entitled to a corner kick. Soccer player Galano, nevertheless, informed the referee because no Virtus Entella defender had made physical touch with the ball. The green card was issued once the call was rescheduled.
The first use of a green card by a referee was the big talking point at the CONIFA World Football Cup in London on Saturday: https://t.co/qMX0E8FKpI #WFC2018 pic.twitter.com/17AVtrYsPC
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 3, 2018
On the contrary, CONIFA rules say that “a player who receives a green card must leave the field of play immediately, but can be replaced if his team have not used all of their substitutes. A player receiving a green card is not excluded from his team’s next match.”
With this specific green card, there is no additional punishment because the player can start the next game prepared. The green card becomes perhaps more of a warning now rather than a major disadvantage for a side. This was the sole incident where a real green card was displayed rather than one that was evaluated digitally. It’s unclear if it will ever truly reappear because it never really seemed to take off after the event.