Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: FIFA, FIFA World Cup
Josh Lawless
FIFA are trialing the use of a green card in football, with one already used in a high-profile game.
Red and yellow cards have been a mainstay in the disciplining of the game ever since they were introduced in 1970 World Cup.
But while they are integral to the application of the rules, a major change could be in store for the beautiful game.
That's because at the men's Under 20 World Cup, currently taking place in Chile, a completely new system is being put to the test.
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During the CONIFA World Football Cup, a tournament for non-FIFA affiliated nations, a green card was handed out for a player's dissent towards a referee.
But while that scheme was designed to help with "the lack of respect for referees", the official Olympics website has explained that the green card has a very different use in the FIFA-backed trial.
Instead, the green card is being used as a key part of the officiating process through Football Video Support (FVS) - which is essentially acting as Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in tournaments and organisations where it is not available.
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Again, the use of video footage is called upon for “clear and obvious errors” involving goals, penalties and yellow cards but the process works differently.
At the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the green card is being utilised as a means to bring in Football Video Support (FVS) - signalling a review request on a decision.
As was the case in the women's U-20 World Cup in Colombia and the Blue Stars FIFA Youth Cup, managers are allowed two challenges per match in a similar scenario to sports like American football, basketball tennis, baseball and cricket.
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A review must be used following a referee's decision, giving them the opportunity to watch a replay of the incident in question on a monitor.
If a team's review results in a decision being overturned, then that they do lose the challenge.
And that is exactly what happened in the first implementation of the green card at the U-20 World Cup, where Morocco beat Spain 2-0 on Sunday.
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Spain were awarded a penalty but after protests, Morocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi made an official challenge to the decision.
That led to the official watching footage of the incident and ultimately overturning the penalty call.
The green card system will continue be present at the tournament in Chile until 19 October when the final takes place.