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Referee makes history by showing first ever 'white card' in Sporting v Benfica clash
Tom Fenton
| Last updated 16:24, 24 January 2023 GMT
Featured Image Credit: Twitter/B24PT
Since the 1970 FIFA World Cup, football fans have grown accustomed to the referee being able to dish out yellow cards and red cards only to offending players. However, officials now have another weapon in their armoury - the 'white card'.
During a match between Benfica and Sporting Lisbon women on Saturday (21 January), the card was used for the very first time in professional football.
Its introduction came as Benfica were 3-0 up against their fierce cross-city rivals, and was necessitated when medical personnel from both sides raced on to the pitch to assist one of the players.
The woman in question had complained of feeling ill during the early part of the match, which saw the medical camps unite to try and assist her.
This action saw the referee issue the never-before-seen white card to both sets of staff, in recognition of their sportsmanship.
The awarding of the card was cheered and applauded by the watching crowd at the Estadio da Luz.
As JOE report, the white card is designed to show recognition to clubs for acts of fair play during a match, in a bid to 'improve ethical value in the sport'.
Referee makes history by showing first ever 'white card' in Sporting v Benfica clash
The card was introduced as a way of recognising acts of fair play in the game.
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