History Made As First Ever Green Card Is Used By Referee During Football Match

The first ever green card in football history has been shown by a referee during the Conifa World Football Cup in London. The “intermidiate disciplinary measure” was brandished twice during Padania vs Tuvalu during this weekend’s tournament.

The competition, played between non-Fifa affiliated international teams, made a little bit of history with the revolutionary card shown.

The green card states the player must leave the field but can be replaced by a sub – should the side have replacements available.

Conifa rules claim: “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.”

On the landmark card being brandished, tournament organiser Paul Watson revealed: “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.

“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.”

Jens Jockel, Conifa’s Asia president agreed, adding: “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 ten minutes left.

“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.”