A different view happened in the match of Benfica vs Sporting Lisbon in the Women’s Portugal Cup, Saturday (21/1/2023). Fans of football can see the use of a white card in football.
The incident began at the end of the first half, when Benfica won 3-0 over Sporting Lisbon at The Estadio da Luz. In the 44th minute, both teams’ medical staff ran into the stands where a spectator complained of pain. The action was then “rewarded” by the referee in charge, Catarina Campos, with a white card.
The supporters were confused by the cards issued by the referee. Because, in football tradition there are only two cards, namely yellow and red. A yellow card for a foul warning is pretty harsh. A red card means a player has to leave the field for a serious foul. Moreover, for the first time in an official football match, a referee issued a white card. Actually, what does a white card mean in football?
White Card History
Quoted from the Mirror, the use of a white card is one of the new breakthroughs from FIFA that is being driven. Then Portugal’s National Plan for Ethics in Sport (PNED) took the initiative to use the white card. The goal is to appreciate sportsmanship and fair play in a match. In the Benfica vs Sporting Lisbon match, it will be recorded as history for the first use of a white card in football.
The pilot project was implemented in the Portuguese leagues with the guidance of the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF). Besides the white card, the Portuguese football authorities have also adopted concussion substitutions as well as longer stoppage time which works as a deterrent for teams who try to waste time.
The meaning of the white card
In accordance with its intended use, a white card is a form of appreciation for sportsmanship and fair play on the field during a match. This is different from yellow and red cards which are synonymous with punishment for players.
The white card is for appreciation with the aim of improving the ethics of competition. The introduction of white cards is part of a new initiative to encourage teams to act in a sporting manner and receive instant recognition for positive actions by both players and staff.
