Referee once gave player a green card in football game

Yellow and red but green?

History was made back in January when a player was shown a white card during a women's game between Sporting CP and Benfica. The white card is used by officials to praise fair play during matches and designed to help promote ethical values in sport.

There was also the iconic moment during the recent Sidemen charity match as YouTuber Max Fosh Uno reversed a yellow card he was given by Mark Clattenburg.

But back in 2018, a green card was shown during the CONIFA World Football Cup - a tournament for nations that aren't affiliated with FIFA.

During the game, play was paused and the referee brandished the green card and ordered the player to leave the pitch.

CONIFA regulations state that: "A player who receives a green card must leave the field of play immediately, but can be replaced if his team have not used all of their substitutes. A player receiving a green card is not excluded from his team's next match."

The first use of a green card by a referee was the big talking point at the CONIFA World Football Cup in London on Saturday: https://t.co/qMX0E8FKpI #WFC2018 pic.twitter.com/17AVtrYsPC

— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) June 3, 2018

Speaking to Sky Sports in 2018, tournament organiser Paul Watson explained why the green card had been introduced.

He said: "We'd really like to clamp down on the dissent problem. Football has a problem with the lack of respect for referees.

"That's not to say that isn't also the case in CONIFA games - the players in our tournament still have those traits.

"But it would be nice that, instead of it being ignored and therefore in a way condoned, it shouldn't necessarily cost someone their chance to play at this tournament, if they just lose their cool."

Jens Jockel, CONIFA’s Asia President added: "We have had some minor problems in the past, with some red cards at the end of a game - mostly when teams realised they can't keep up and find themselves losing heavily with 10 minutes left.

"It's a really good idea of how to sanction things that might not be worthy of a red card. More like personal mistakes - using swear words, disrespecting spectators and coaches and so on. It's a perfect way to find something in between."

Related links:

• Football history made as ref has yellow card Uno reversed
• Referee suspended for playing 42 minutes of stoppage time
• Referee shows white card during Sporting Lisbon vs Benfica