Since the 1970 FIFA World Cup, football fans have grown accustomed to the referee’s ability to only show yellow and red cards to infringing players. However, officials now have another weapon in their armoury – the ‘white card’.
The card was used for the first time in professional football on Saturday (21 January) during a match between Benfica and Sporting Lisbon women.
It was introduced with Benfica leading 3-0 against their fierce cross-city rivals, and it was made necessary when medical workers from both teams hurried onto the pitch to aid one of the players.
The woman in issue had complained of feeling ill during the early stages of the game, prompting the medical camps to band together to help her.
In acknowledgment of their sportsmanship, the referee issued the never-before-seen white card to both sets of staff.
The crowd at the Estadio da Luz clapped and applauded when the card was presented.
As JOE write, the white card is aimed to provide credit to clubs for acts of fair conduct during a match, in an attempt to ‘increase ethical value in the sport’.
The white card has been implemented in Portugal as part of a number of recent FIFA initiatives. Football’s international governing body has also added concussion substitutes, as well as extra stoppage time, which was particularly noticeable during the 2022 World Cup group stage matches in Qatar.
With the white card finally in use, the goal is that additional officials will use it as needed during a game.
The white card, like the extended stoppage time, has elicited a mixed reaction on social media.
Many individuals responded with applause and praise emojis, expressing gratitude for what the card represents.
Others, on the other hand, were perplexed by the gesture.
“Effectively means nothing as far as I can tell,” one Twitter user said.
“What utter claptrap,” one person said.
Given this, it is possible that the card will not be adopted in the Premier League anytime soon.
For the time being, it is strictly a Portuguese effort, therefore all eyes will be on the country’s domestic leagues to observe how fans react to the white card over time.
Benfica, on the other hand, cruised to a 5-0 victory against their main domestic rivals to go to the Taca de Portugal semi-finals.
