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White card in football - not so unusual in Portugal
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[M] Getty Images / iStockphoto
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Feuerherdt, in Portuguese women's football, a fair play action was rewarded with a white card.
This story has aroused great interest among our readers.
As a referee expert, did you know what this action was all about?
Feuerherdt:
No, I didn't know that, I was just as surprised as everyone else.
That's why I first read a few texts that I found on the subject.
SPIEGEL:
The card has been available in Portugal since 2015, initially in futsal and children's football, and now also in women's football.
When is fair play worthy enough to be awarded its own card?
Feuerherdt:
It's always something very subjective.
In this case, one player became ill and the medical departments of both teams took care of her.
The referee apparently found that remarkable.
Miroslav Klose conceded a handball as a Lazio player in Serie A in September 2012 and won a fair play award in Italy for it.
That would probably also be an action that could be rewarded with a white card during a game.
SPIEGEL:
Why can the Portuguese FA introduce a rule like the white card just like that?
Feuerherdt:
National peculiarities in the implementation of the set of rules are not unusual, there are often differences between the professional and amateur sectors.
In the first two Portuguese men's leagues, for example, there is no white card.
In Germany, some state associations have introduced time penalties.
The football rules allow that, but only for amateurs.
The associations can then decide for themselves whether they want to use it or not.
SPIEGEL:
What do you think of the white card?
Feuerherdt:
So far, it was sufficient for me if the referee noted a fair play action in the game report.
However, there are situations in which the white card makes sense.
In the stadium, the fans lack slow motion, some situations remain unclear, and the white card could help make it clear to everyone in the stadium that something very fair has just happened here.
For example, a player conceding a swallow or an illegal goal.
And, of course, it's always good when fair play is rewarded.
