They have long been accused of gamesmanship and diving in hopes of drawing a penalty, but Italian football players will be able to get an alternate types of recognition through the referees — a “green card” to identify great sportsmanship also “acts of virtue” from the pitch.
Soccer referees currently carry a yellowish and red card inside their clothing pouches — yellow to warn and purple to dismiss players for egregious violations associated with principles. According to the Italian magazine Los Angeles Stampa, Italy’s Serie B professional league will include the green card to reward players which commit conspicuous functions of sportsmanship. The theory was adopted in Italian youth leagues and may spread other expert leagues, the magazine stated.
There's no in-game incentive for earning a green card, however the player’s title is going to be noted and a listing of the “most correct” players should be put together at the conclusion of the season.
Green cards is generated for such activities as giving a basketball out-of-bounds to end play when a new player is hurt; assisting the referee make a proper call; and — curiously — admitting to presenting taken a diving to win a penalty kick.
The idea, relating to Italian soccer officials, will be “highlight those that help to make the overall game a-game rather than a battle by primal instincts.”
The green card should be introduced into league online game later this month. Some predict it will get since have various other recent innovations, including goal-line technology and spray-marking the line in which defenders must stand on free kicks.