The new sanction explained Raymond Mashamba twice issued a green card during in a match between Padania and Tuvalu in the CONFIFA World Cup

A referee has shown the first ever green card to discipline a player

A referee has shown football’s first ever green card to discipline a player in the CONFIFA World Cup.


The card, used as a disciplinary measure between the yellow and red cards, was shown to a player at the tournament held in London.

The CONFIFA tournament for non-FIFA affiliated teams was played in non-league grounds in London and became the first competition to include the green card.

It was issued by referee Raymond Mashamba twice in a match between Padania and Tuvalu.

What happens when a player is shown a green card?

CONIFA rules state 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.”

What is it used for and what has been said about it?

The tournament’s organiser Paul Watson told Sky Sports: “We’d really like to clamp down on the dissent problem. Football has a problem with the lack of respect for referees.

“That’s not to say that isn’t also the case in CONIFA games – the players in our tournament still have those traits.

How it might look if the green card makes it to the Premier League

“But it would be nice that, instead of it being ignored and therefore in a way condoned, it shouldn’t necessarily cost someone their chance to play at this tournament, if they just lose their cool.”

CONFIFA’s Asia President Jens Jockel also supports the introduction of the green card.

“We have had some minor problems in the past, with some red cards at the end of a game – mostly when teams realised they can’t keep up and find themselves losing heavily with 10 minutes left,” he explained.

“It’s a really good idea of how to sanction things that might not be worthy of a red card. More like personal mistakes – using swear words, disrespecting spectators and coaches and so on. It’s a perfect way to find something in between.”

Has the green card been used before?

Italian football bosses introduced in the Serie B three years ago – but not to punish players.

It was shown for things that the referee deemed a player did well – presented to players when they performed an act of fair play – or “acts of virtue” on the field of play.

The idea had previously been adopted in the Italian youth leagues as a trial, but chiefs in the Italian hierarchy believed it would have great effect on the senior game.

By receiving a green card, the players received no on-pitch recognition, but their names were noted and a list of the “most correct” players compiled at the end of the season.

http://www.vondanews.com/referee-shows-footballs-first-ever-green-card-to-discipline-player/

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