Football history has been made with the first ever Green Card issue.
Cristiano Galano – Vicenza player and reciever of the first green card in football
For the first time in football history, a player has been given a Green Card, a newly added card to reward fair play. The card was given to Vicenza’s Cristiano Galano during an Italian second tier game between Virtus Entella and Vicenza.
The new Green Card was announced by Italy’s series B at the start of the season, who said that it will reward fair play and encourage players to play with better sportsmanship.
It was also announced that the player with the most Green Cards will be given a reward at the end of each season.
It was Vicenza’s Cristian Galano who was the lucky recipient of the first ever Green Card in football history, who received it from referee Marco Mainardi. It was in the 53rd minute of the game that Galano proved deserving of the card, when a corner-kick was ruled in the favor of Vicenza, but was overruled when Galano admitted that no Virtus Entella player had touched the ball.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTkPi3Qdf-Y
While no actual physical cards have been handed out to the referees, the card is more of a symbolical gesture, and has no effect on the outcome of the match results. However, every Green Card is documented, and will the player who received the most will be announced and awarded at the end of the season.
A similar initiative was launched by the Stockholm Football Association, who introduce the card in the capital’s biggest youth football tournament this past summer.
