sportbible homepage
sportbible homepage
  • Football
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • Home
  • Football
    • Premier League
    • Champions League
    • World Cup
    • England
    • Transfer News
    • Manchester United
    • Liverpool
    • Arsenal
    • Real Madrid
    • Barcelona
  • Formula 1
    • Red Bull
    • Ferrari
    • McLaren
    • Mercedes
    • Max Verstappen
    • Lewis Hamilton
    • Lando Norris
    • George Russell
    • Charles Leclerc
  • Boxing
  • UFC
  • More Sport
    • Tennis
    • Golf
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • Darts
    • Athletics
    • Rugby
    • Wrestling
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Archive
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Snapchat
TikTok
Threads
YouTube
Submit Your Content Here
  • LADbible
  • Tyla
  • GAMINGbible
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • FOODbible
  • UNILAD Tech
Club World Cup referee shows never-before-seen 'Prayer card' during match as real reason explained

Home> Football> Football News

Updated 14:22 18 Jun 2025 GMT+1Published 10:46 18 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Club World Cup referee shows never-before-seen 'Prayer card' during match as real reason explained

Cesar Alvaro Ramos showed the never-before-seen card during Boca Juniors versus Benfica.

Ryan Smart

Ryan Smart

google discoverFollow us on Google Discover

A Club World Cup referee showed a never-before-seen card during the match between Boca Juniors and Benfica.

In a highly-charged match-up, three players were sent off - including former Manchester United midfielder Ander Herrera.

The Spanish midfielder went off after 20 minutes through injury, but tried to protest a penalty decision given against Boca before half-time and had a physical altercation with a security guard.

Benfica came from 2-0 down to draw level at 2-2 through goals from Angel Di Maria and Nicolas Otamendi.

Advert

Aside from the end result, there was another notable incident during the match that has never been seen before in football.

Referee Cesar Alvaro Ramos showed a prayer card to Boca defender Jorge Figal when sending him off, instead of a red card.

Image: DAZN
Image: DAZN

The card showed Our Lady of Guadalupe, an apparition of the Virgin Mary, considered the patron saint of Mexico and a powerful national symbol of Mexican identity and Catholic faith.

She was proclaimed patroness of Mexico City in 1737 (via Britannica), with that patronage being accepted by the territories of New Spain, which included part of present-day California several years later.

Watch for free


Her status has also been involved in highlighting Mexican nationalism and identity, with hundreds of thousands of pilgrims visiting her shrine in Mexico City each year.

After he inadvertently showed the card while sending off Figal, Ramos pulled it back down with one finger and back into his pocket.

Image: DAZN
Image: DAZN

It is not the only rare card to be shown in football - though each of the other cards do have specific rules behind them.

A green card indicates that a player must leave the field immediately, but can be replaced if a team has substitutions remaining.

However, the card is not officially used by FIFA, with it being debuted at the 2016 CONIFA World Football Cup - a tournament for non-FIFA affiliated teams.

And in 2023, a white card was handed out for the first time during a women's match between Sporting Lisbon and Benfica.

The card was introduced as a way to promote fair play in football, and was shown to the medical staff of both sides after they assisted a fan who felt unwell in the stands.

Featured Image Credit: DAZN

Topics: FIFA Club World Cup

Ryan Smart
Ryan Smart

Live in constant hope of the top flight as a Preston North End fan. Written in the past for SPORF, GiveMeSport and more.

Recommended reads

Man Utd's 15 transfer targets to fill four key positions as at least six prepare to leaveGetty ImagesDennis Taylor interview: Why snooker legend is playing in brand-new event... and how he saved someone's lifeGettyRanking the top 10 best golfers of all time as Nicklaus v Woods GOAT debate settledGetty ImagesDavid Munyua and Peter Wachiuri interview: 'We wish for major PDC players to come and visit Kenya'Getty / Instagram/@wachiuridarts

Advert

  • FIFA to make two unprecedented changes to red card rules for World Cup
  • Club World Cup referee uses new rule not seen in football before and it caught the players off guard
  • FIFA Club World Cup could feature never-before-seen football rule after lawmakers give it green light
  • FIFA 'ignore' important football rule during Club World Cup final between Chelsea and PSG

Choose your content:

an hour ago
3 hours ago
  • Getty Images - Sky Sports
    an hour ago

    Fans inside Old Trafford are loving what stadium announcer said after Kobbie Mainoo's goal vs Liverpool

    Mainoo netted the winner for United in their 3-2 win over Liverpool.

    Football
  • Getty I
    3 hours ago

    Sir Alex Ferguson taken to hospital after feeling unwell at Old Trafford ahead of Man Utd vs Liverpool

    Ferguson was feeling unwell at Old Trafford before kick-off, according to reports.

    Football
  • Getty
    3 hours ago

    Mason Greenwood given brutal 0/10 rating from newspaper after 'scandalous' peformance

    The entire Marseille team received a zero but Greenwood came in for the most brutal criticism of all.

    Football
  • Getty
    3 hours ago

    Premier League journeyman looks unrecognisable after competing in completely new sport

    The Premier League record-holder competed in a different sport but found it to be much tougher than football.

    Football