For the First Time: Electronic Cards Instead of Paper in Football!
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In a landmark step in Latin America, Uruguayan football tested electronic cards instead of traditional paper ones to automatically record bookings and sanctions.
For the First Time in Football History: Electronic Cards Instead of Paper!
Football pitches in Latin America witnessed an unprecedented historic innovation by testing the use of virtual and electronic cards for the first time during Nacional’s 3-0 victory over Rentistas in the Round of 16 of the Uruguay Cup.
How Do the New Electronic Cards Work?
- Smart Device for Referees: Referee Eduardo Varela used an electronic device resembling a smartphone or small tablet to issue the first yellow card of the match in the 12th minute via a screen and dedicated buttons for yellow and red cards.
- Automatic Sanction Recording: The device is not limited to displaying cards; it also automatically records sanctions and sends them to the electronic system, sparing referees from manual note-taking.
- Comprehensive Tech Project: This initiative is part of a project by the Uruguayan Football Association in collaboration with a tech company, aiming to record other match events in real-time, such as substitutions and penalty kicks, with information expected to reach media outlets directly in the future. The device also does not require a Wi-Fi connection.
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Challenges of the First Trial
Despite the technical success of the step, the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo noted that the trial still needs improvements, as the color of the card was not sufficiently visible from a distance during its debut, causing some confusion among fans in the stadium.
