Red cards and yellow cards are common sightings in football, but have you ever witnessed a referee pull out a white card from his pocket? Not really, right?
However, football history was created on January 21, during a women's cup match between Benfica and Sporting Lisbon when referee Catarina Campos brandished a white card.
Curious to know the reason? But first, let us find out what the card actually means.
What is a white card?
The white card is used to recognise fair play. There are no benefits or demerits of receiving a white card but it is a tool which is simply used to 'improve ethical value in the sport'.
It can be shown to a player, a member of the coaching or medical staff of both teams.
It has been introduced in Portugal as part of Portugal's National Plan for Ethics in Sport (PNED) to appreciate positive acts on the field.
The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has given it a green light to be implemented in all their domestic football tournaments, including the Liga Portugal.
However, it is yet to get approval from FIFA and hence its use is restricted only to Portugal.
Why was the white card used?
Benfica were 3-0 up against Sporting Lisbon in the Taca de Portugal match. Just before half-time, someone off-the-pitch reportedly fell unwell which prompted the medical staff of both teams to rush to their aid.
The referee then went ahead and showed the white card to both medical staffs for their prompt action. The fans at the Estadio da Luz applauded the medics and gave them a standing ovation as well.
Has the use of white card been mooted before?
Former UEFA president Michel Platini suggested the introduction of the white card in football for the first time. However, his idea was to address a completely different context.
Platini's idea was to show the white card to players as a punishment for dissent, which would force the offender to leave the pitch for 10 minutes. He suggested this punitive measure to fight the "craze of contesting the referee" which he thought was "a veritable epidemic in football".
However, the idea is yet to see daylight.
When can we see the white card in Premier League & UEFA club competitions?
For the time being, the white card remains confined to the borders of Portugal as it is yet to be approved by the International Football Association Board.
Hence, it is unlikely that we would get to see the white card being introduced in the top flight competitions in England, Spain, Italy, Germany, and France or in the continental competitions organised by UEFA.