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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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