When you’re new to the beautiful game of soccer, there are lots of rules to come to terms with. If you don’t abide by the rules on the field, the referee can punish you in different ways.
In this article, we answer the question – what does a green card mean in soccer? – and help you understand what can lead to you being shown this card on the field of play.
So, what does a green card mean in soccer?
There are two uses of a green card in soccer. The first is to promote fair play, which is an initiative that has been launched in both Ireland and Italy. The second is to indicate to a player that they need to leave the field of play. But instead of issuing a red card, a green card means that they can then be substituted by another player, provided the team has available substitutes remaining.
Is a green card a punishment?
In 2018 at the CONIFA World Cup, referees were given permission to issue a green card to players during the course of a match. Hosted in London at non-league grounds, the CONIFA World Cup features countries that are not officially recognised by FIFA, soccer’s world governing body.
The referee could issue a green card to players that had committed an offence that was deemed to be serious. But instead of showing them a red card and causing the team to go down to ten players, they were permitted to introduce a substitute to enter the field in place of the outgoing player.
So, in this particular tournament, the issuance of a green card was a form of punishment, but it hasn’t really caught on. However, green cards are still sometimes used in amateur soccer and during kids’ games for the same purpose.
Can a green card also represent fair play?
Somewhat confusingly, some soccer associations issue green cards to celebrate instances of fair play on the soccer field. For instance, the Football Association of Ireland introduced the green card to highlight examples of fair play in the game and to encourage higher standards for junior and amateur players.
Every team that fulfils the requirements of the green card will receive one per game, which accumulate and contribute to a fair play prize at the end of the season. This initiative is helping to make grassroots soccer more accessible and more fun for all players.
A similar initiative was trialled in Serie B in Italy, but it hasn’t been taken up by any other leagues in the world. As such, we don’t see green cards being issued by referees in professional leagues at present, but this might change in the future.
What can a referee give a green card for?
In competitions where a green card is used, a referee can issue a green card for violations of the rules of the game. It sits in between a yellow and a red card and might be issued for a foul or for an act of unsporting behaviour.
The key distinction is that, when a referee issues a green card, the offending team can send on a substitute to replace the player who has been sent from the field. When a red card is given, the player has no choice but to leave the field, and the team has to play with ten.
This is why a green card is popular in junior soccer, as it allows referees to teach kids a lesson without impacting the entire team. It remains to be seen whether the initiative will be taken up in professional and adult leagues around the world, as they are currently content with the system of red and yellow cards.
Do you get a fine for receiving a green card?
When you receive a yellow or red card in amateur soccer, you usually receive a fine from the soccer authority. However, because a green card is not an official rule, it doesn’t come with a fine attached and is used for on-field discipline only.
That being said, receiving a green card on the field isn’t something to be happy about (unless you’re playing soccer in Ireland), as it is an indication of your breaking of the rules of the game.
As mentioned, green cards are typically used in recreational soccer to teach junior players a lesson, so it’s not also necessary to issue a fine in addition to the penalty of leaving the field of play.
How is a green card different from a red or yellow?
The primary difference between a green card and red and yellow cards is that green cards are not officially within the laws of the game. So, referees in professional and competitive leagues are not permitted to issue a green card.
However, in mini-leagues, junior soccer, and games under certain jurisdictions, referees can issue green cards. And a green card is issued when a player breaks the rules by committing a foul or an act of unsporting behavior.
A green card is more serious than a yellow card, but not as serious as a red. So, you are likely to receive a green card if your foul is more serious than a caution able offence in soccer but doesn’t warrant your team to go down to ten men.
Recap: Green card in soccer
Although a green card in soccer is an unofficial punishment, it has been used in certain parts of the world. However, there is no evidence to suggest that it will become a feature of professional or competitive soccer in the near future.
We love the green card initiative in Ireland, where young teams can receive a card if they play the game with integrity, and this is something we can certainly get on board with in recreational soccer.