Whenever we discuss football, we only hear about Yellow and Red cards which are used as a punishment against the players for their foul play or interdisciplinary action.
However, FIFA recently introduced a new Green Card, allowing coaches and managers to challenge referee decisions.
How does a green card work in football?
The Green Card in football is a new system introduced by FIFA to let coaches and technical staff challenge a referee’s on-field decisions. First tested during the U-20 World Cup in Chile, the Green Card allows teams to formally question key decisions such as wrongly awarded penalties, goals that should not have stood, incorrect red or yellow cards, or cases of mistaken identity when a wrong player is sent off.
Each team can use the Green Card twice per match. If a challenge is upheld and the referee’s decision is overturned, the team keeps that challenge for later use. However, if the challenge fails, one of the two chances is lost.
Currently, the Green Card system is being trialed only in FIFA tournaments that do not use VAR (Video Assistant Referee). Instead, it operates alongside a more affordable alternative called FVS (Football Video Support), designed to offer similar oversight at a lower cost.
First-ever use of the Green Card in the U-20 World Cup
South Korea vs Ukraine
During the U-20 World Cup match between South Korea and Ukraine, a notable incident took place in the 37th minute when Ukraine was awarded a penalty. South Korea’s head coach, Changwon Lee raised a purple card to challenge the referee’s decision, leaving many spectators confused. At that time, FIFA was still testing the system, and the purple card served the same purpose as what later became the green card.
The referee accepted the challenge and reviewed the video footage, but the decision stood and the penalty was upheld. Ukraine eventually went on to win the match 2–1. For context, before officially introducing the green card, FIFA experimented with both blue and purple cards under the Football Video Support (FVS) system.
Morocco vs Spain
In the 78th minute of the match, Spain was awarded a penalty, but Moroccan coach Mohamed Ouahbi reached into his pocket to show the green card and challenge the referee’s decision. The referee reviewed the video footage and overturned the call. Spain’s Virgili J was then shown a yellow card for diving.
Future of Green Cards
The green card system is still being tested by FIFA in youth tournaments like the 2025 U-20 World Cup. FIFA and IFAB are assessing its accuracy, time efficiency, and overall feasibility for competitions without full VAR setups.
Early trials suggest it works well in limited contexts, particularly in tournaments with smaller budgets. Its wider rollout is expected first in: youth and regional tournaments (U-17, U-20, continental qualifiers), lower-tier professional leagues (Asian, African, South American domestic competitions) and smaller national team qualifiers
Before large-scale adoption, FIFA must address several challenges:
- Time-wasting: preventing tactical misuse of challenges
- Consistency: maintaining uniform rules across leagues
- Training: helping referees and coaches adapt
- Public perception: ensuring trust in its fairness
The green card is not replacing VAR but expanding its reach. By giving coaches the power to challenge key calls, FIFA aims to make officiating fairer, more transparent, and accessible to all levels of football.
FIFA’s introduction of the green card marks a bold move toward greater fairness and accessibility in football officiating. By allowing coaches to challenge key decisions, the Football Video Support system brings VAR-like oversight to lower-budget tournaments. Still in its early stages, the initiative reflects football’s push for balance, maintaining game flow while reducing errors, and could redefine decision-making if proven successful.
