Ladies and gentlemen, history has been made. Football’s first ever green card was shown in Italy’s second division the Serie B by referee Marco Mainardi.
But what does a green card really mean? It’s an award for fair play.
“It’s a symbolic award. It could be something very simple. The important thing is to recognise it when a professional does something exemplary,” Serie B president Andrea Abodi was quoted as saying by Goal.
And Vicenza attacker Cristian Galano did exactly that when he helped the referee decide whether his shot touched a defender or not, when a corner was given after a shot from a tight angle.
The referee said it was a corner, but the opposition defenders asked him to confirm with Galano, and the attacker duly said that his hit was clean – and it should be a goal kick.
The player with the most number of green cards will get an award at the end of the season.
Feature image source: Twitter / Bleacher Report