They have long been accused of gamesmanship and diving in hopes of drawing a penalty, but Italian footballers will soon be able to get a different kind of recognition from referees — a 'green card' for good sportsmanship and other 'acts of virtue' on the pitch.
Referees already carry a yellow and red cards in their shirt pockets — yellow to warn and red to dismiss players for egregious violations of the rules.
According to the Italian newspaper, La Stampa, Italy’s Serie B (second division) will add the green card to reward players who commit conspicuous acts of sportsmanship.
The idea was first adopted in Italian youth leagues but this is the first time the scheme will be used at a considerable level and it could spread to other professional leagues, the newspaper said.
There is no in-game reward for earning a green card, but the player’s name will be noted and a list of the 'most correct' players will be compiled at the end of the season.
Green cards can be earned for such actions as sending a ball out of bounds to stop play when a player is injured, helping the referee make a correct call and — curiously — admitting to having taken a dive in order to win a penalty kick.
The idea, according to Italian officials, is to “highlight those who help to make the game a game and not a battle by primal instincts.”
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