White cards, green cards... and now pink! Football's latest card will be shown at the Copa America after a rule change... but what do the colours mean and how do they work?

A pink card will be used at this summer's Copa America following a rule change The card will be the latest to have been introduced into football in recent years If this is the future I want no part in it... why are Spurs and Newcastle playing a post-season friendly in Melbourne!? - Listen to It's All Kicking Off! podcast 

Fans watching this summer's Copa America could soon see the latest card brandished in football.

South American football's governing body CONMEBOL have passed a rule ahead of the tournament in the United States, which will introduce a pink card.

A pink card will be part of a system which could see a team granted an additional substitute in matches.

Referees will brandish the card if they are notified of a team making a substitute as a result of a concussion or head injury.

The card will confirm both sides will have an additional substitute as part of the rule, after football's lawmakers the International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved permanent concussion substitutions back in March.

Pink cards are set to be used at the Copa America after organisers approved a rule change

Fans are used to red and yellow cards but several new cards have been introduced to the game

Pink cards are among the latest to be shown in the game, with several new colours introduced in recent years.

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Referees will show footballers a PINK CARD in big matches this summer, with a new rule put into action

Fans are used to red and yellow cards for fouls and misdemeanors during a match, having been implemented over 50 years ago at the 1970 World Cup.

Earlier this year, IFAB planned to approve a controversial proposal to give referees blue cards to use in sin-bin trials.

Referees would have had the power to order players to the sin-bin for acts of dissent against officials and cynical fouls.

Players would have been warned that two blue-card offences, or a combination of yellow and blue, would add up to a red card and dismissal.

The plans were ultimately shelved amid a widespread backlash to their introduction, although sin bin trials have continued at grassroots level.

A white card had initially been proposed by former UEFA president Michel Platini, but these have been used for a different reason in Portugal.

White cards have been used as part of an initiative in Portugal to recognise and encourage fair play and was designed to 'improve ethical value in the sport.'

Blue cards were set to be introduced as part of sin bins until the proposal was shelved

A white card was introduced in Portugal last year to reward acts of good sportsmanship

It came after someone in the dugout fell ill, with medical staff from both teams helping them

The referee brandished it as a recognition of their sportsmanlike conduct during the match

The aim was to encourage greater sportsmanship and offer an instant recognition of positive actions.

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What is a white card? Why is it shown by referees? And could we see it in the Premier League? All you need to know about the new initiative after it was used in Portugal over the weekend 

The first white card was shown by referee Catarina Campos during a women's cup game between Sporting Lisbon and Benfica in January 2023.

After someone in the dug-out fell ill, medical staff from both sides quickly went to their aid. Campos showed the white card to those involved, getting a warm reception from the Estadio da Luz crowd.

It was then used again nine months later in a Portuguese men's fifth division game. A forward was presented with a golden opportunity to score when a defender gave the ball away while injured.

The attacker quickly realised his opponent was hurt and kicked the ball out so they could receive treatment instead of scoring.

The sporting gesture was applauded by the fans in attendance and the referee recognised the good sportsmanship with a white card.

A green card was introduced at the 2018 CONIFA World Cup - a competition for non-FIFA affiliated international teams - held in London.

The green card was introduced as a concept by tournament sponsors Paddy Power and when it was issued to a player for dissent or diving, the offender had to be substituted immediately.

Green cards were used at the 2018 CONIFA World Cup in London for dissent or diving

Under the rules of the tournament, a player shown the green card had to be substituted

The Group C clash between Padania and Tuvalu at Coles Park, Haringey saw referee Raymond Mashamba issue a green card twice in a matter of minutes.

The first was shown to a Tuvalu midfielder and the second to Padania's Stefano Baldan. The Tuvalu player remained on, however, because all their subs had already been used.

Italy's Serie B launched a 'symbolic' green card as a positive measure during the 2015-16 season in an effort to promote fair play.

Players could earn one by putting the ball out of play when someone was injured, assisting the referee or admitting to diving in the penalty box.

Italian football also previously used an orange card which removed players from the games for a few minutes following an offence.