On Saturday, referee Catarina Branco entered the history books of the Beautiful Game by becoming the first referee to show a white card.
That’s right, it wasn’t one of the yellow or red cards that we’re more than accustomed to ;a white card and comes after the option was established in Portugal a few months ago. But what does it mean?
We’re used to yellow and red cards but now a white card is being trialled in Portugal with a very different meaning.
Branco’s historic moment came in the women’s cup match between Benfica and Sporting Lisbon, the Portuguese referee showed the peculiar card just before half-time. The new initiative aims to recognize the ‘fair play’ in the game.
Interestingly, on this occasion, the card was not shown to a player from either team, nor the coaching staff. Instead it was the medical team that were acknowledged after they quickly came to the aid of a person who had fainted.
Those in the Estadio da Luz joined in by standing up and giving a warm ovation to the medics from both clubs.
“Improving the ethical value in sport” is the purpose of this white card that represents a 360 degree change in the type of ‘cautions’ the referees can brandish.