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Article continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="better-collective-widget">{"type":"better-collective-widget","data":{}}</script>Article continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>New pink card in Copa America </li><li>To be used to indicate a concussion substitute </li><li>Teams can opt for a sixth change with this rule </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

Explained: A pink card?! New rule introduced at Copa America alongside yellow and red - but what is it for?

Copa America

Argentina

Canada

Brazil

Costa Rica

In a groundbreaking move to enhance player safety, the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) has mandated the use of a pink card for the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/brazil-copa-america-2024-squad-dorival-junior/blt3c3e8b96dd3771ab" target="_blank">upcoming continental tournament.</a> This innovative measure aims to address the serious issue of head injuries and concussions in football by providing a clear protocol for concussion substitutions.

WHAT HAPPENED?

This summer's Copa America, scheduled to <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/copa-america/news/45db8orh1qttbsqq9hqapmbit" target="_blank">take place in the United States from June 20 to July 14,</a> will see referees wielding pink cards alongside the traditional yellow and red ones. The pink card signifies the need for a player to be substituted due to a suspected concussion or head injury. This new rule was passed ahead of the tournament as part of CONMEBOL's ongoing efforts to prioritize player health and safety. It allows for a sixth substitute to be introduced in matches if a player is suspected of suffering from a concussion. According to CONMEBOL, the process requires the team’s coach to inform the main referee or the fourth official, who will then show the pink card to indicate the substitution. Moreover, the opposing team will also be granted an additional substitute to maintain fairness in the game. This means both teams can potentially benefit from an extra substitution if a player suffers a head injury.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

A statement from CONMEBOL read: "The CONMEBOL Directorate of Competitions and Operations announced that, to the five changes per team authorised by the regulations, a potential sixth will be added to take care of the health of the footballers. This is an extra substitution in the event of suspected head trauma and concussion. To do so, the main referee or the fourth referee must be informed and a pink card will be used."

WHAT CONMEBOL SAID

Once a player is substituted under the pink card rule, they are not allowed to return to the field of play. The affected player will be taken to the dressing room or a medical facility for further assessment and care. This ensures that the player receives appropriate medical attention and avoids the risks associated with returning to play prematurely. Team doctors must then complete and submit a detailed report to CONMEBOL's medical commission within 24 hours, outlining the concussion assessment findings, regardless of whether the player was substituted or not. This documentation is crucial for monitoring and ensuring that concussion protocols are properly followed.

DID YOU KNOW?

The introduction of the pink card follows the International Football Association Board (IFAB)'s approval of permanent concussion substitutions earlier this year. While this new law officially comes into effect from July 1, it allowed organisers to implement it ahead of schedule. The pink card is the latest addition to football's disciplinary tools, joining the well-known yellow and red cards. In recent years, white cards have also been introduced on rare occasions to recognize sporting gestures and fair play, highlighting the sport’s evolving nature to include more nuanced officiating methods.

WHAT NEXT?

Explained: A pink card?! New rule introduced at Copa America alongside yellow and red - but what is it for? | Goal.com UK

CONMEBOL have announced that match officials will have a pink card, alongside yellow and red, during the 2024 Copa America.