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White Card Was First Shown by Football Referee During Sporting vs Benfica

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Did you know that a white card was first shown during a match in 2023 between Portuguese rivals Sporting Lisbon and Benfica? Yellow and red cards have been part and parcel of football for decades now, so the sight of a white card looked incredibly bizarre to every football fan.

The new card was shown shortly before half-time of the women’s football fixture in Portugal. Benfica were 3-0 up when the ref pulled the white card out and brandished it in the same way a match official would a yellow or red card. This was the first time white card had ever been used, and it sparked plenty of confusion – and debate – at the time. Watch the footage below:

Referee with white card
Referee with white card

But what’s the purpose of a white card in football, and when is it used? Well, in this specific scenario, it was reported that someone on the bench in the dugout had suddenly fallen ill towards the end of the first half. Medical staff from both sides subsequently rushed to the person’s aid.

Once the issue was dealt with, the referee then brandished the white card, much to the delight of fans inside the Estadio da Luz. Unlike yellow and red cards, which punish teams for breaking football’s rules, white cards are designed to recognise and praise clubs for fair play.

Part of a new initiative in Portugal at the time, the hope was that a white card would encourage ethical values in sport. On this particular occasion, the white card was shown in the direction of the medical staff, who were quick on the scene to treat the person in the dugout.

It sounds like a nice idea in principle, doesn’t it? The white card provides immediate recognition for a positive act during a football match.

The initiative was part of a series of new introductions in football, which also included concussion substitutions and longer stoppage time – as was witnessed during the 2022 World Cup finals in Qatar.

However, two years on and we’re yet to see white cards become commonplace in football. While the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) implemented the white card across its domestic competitions, per the Olympics’ official website, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) are yet to formally introduce the card into the laws of the game.

“The aim of the card is to recognise, highlight and reward ethically relevant attitudes and behaviour of practitioners, coaches, managers, among other agents directly involved in the game, as well as spectators,” Portugal’s National Plan for Ethics in Sport (PNED) stated in 2023. There is currently no threshold for when a referee can issue a white card during a match.

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Referee holding blue card
Referee holding blue card

The white card isn’t the only new card in football to create headlines in recent years. In early 2024, fans and pundits alike debated the pros and cons of a potential blue card, which would lead to a 10-minute suspension for players guilty of a cynical foul or for showing dissent towards a match official. Following a backlash, IFAB eventually dropped the plans as part of a trial into sin bins.

And in 2018, a green card experiment was conducted during the CONICA World Football Cup – a tournament for non-FIFA affiliated international teams. A Padania player was shown a green card and ordered him to leave the pitch.

The idea of the green card, similar to the blue card, was that it would lead to a reduction in dissent shown towards officials. CONIFA rules stated that “a player who receives a green card must leave the field of play immediately, but can be replaced if his team have not used all of their substitutes. A player receiving a green card is not excluded from his team’s next match.”

“We’d really like to clamp down on the dissent problem. Football has a problem with the lack of respect for referees,” tournament organiser Paul Watson said at the time. “That’s not to say that isn’t also the case in CONIFA games – the players in our tournament still have those traits.

“But it would be nice that, instead of it being ignored and therefore in a way condoned, it shouldn’t necessarily cost someone their chance to play at this tournament, if they just lose their cool.”

Meanwhile, a new purple card was trialled alongside a new blue card at the 2025 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. These Football Video Support (FVS) cards allow coaches to challenge decisions as an alternative to VAR.

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Man Utd Now Want World-Record Deal For Left-Back

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Manchester United could turn to a Premier League rival as they look to add depth at left-back this summer. Michael Carrick is set to be given a sizable chunk of cash as the club look to build on the relative success of last season that saw them finish third in the Premier League.

The Red Devils have had some rare success in the market of late, switching their focus to ensure a chunk of their business involves proven Premier League players. Such signings never come cheap, but there is a reduced gamble, and signings like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo have helped prove that point.

United have already signed Ederson from Atalanta this summer, and they are now set to return to the Premier League fountain, according to a fresh report.

Hall becomes surprise target

Lewis Hall
Lewis Hall

One position United could do with more depth in is the left-back spot. Luke Shaw is getting no younger, and he has dealt with plenty of injury issues, while Tyrell Malacia has left the club, leaving only youngster Diego Léon as an alternative.

A left-back signing is highly likely this summer, and The Sun report that the Red Devils are considering a deal for Newcastle United’s Lewis Hall. It’s reported Hall is upset with Newcastle over missing out on the England squad, with Eddie Howe having played him out of position and substituted him at half-time during the final run of games.

The report claims Newcastle maintain there is no rift between Hall and Howe, but United are still said to be hoping to exploit the situation by offering Hall a starting spot at left-back.

A price tag of £80million has been floated by some, which would make Hall the most expensive left-back of all time, ahead of Lucas Hernandez, who joined Bayern Munich for €80million back in 2019.

That would take a sizable chunk out of United’s budget, and they still need a starting holding midfielder this summer, along with some other bits and pieces.

Hall’s price tag is not without reason

lewis hall england

Newcastle paid £28million to sign Hall from Chelsea as a youngster, and that proved to be a wise deal. He is now a staple of the Magpies starting XI at the tender age of 21, and there is still plenty to come from the England international.

Hall has attracted plenty of praise during his young career, but one of the more glowing reviews came from TalkSport pundit Jason Cundy, who said: “I think that consistently, Lewis Hall has been, without a doubt, for me, the best English left back in the country. He attacks, his positional sense, his weight of cross, his pass, his energy levels.

“He knows when to support the wide man, knows when to overlap, he’s a brilliant player. Lewis Hall, from when I saw him at Chelsea to now…I think he could actually move to a top five or six club in the world.

“I think he’s got that in him, I’m not joking, he could be at Real Madrid. I think he could be that good. It’s a big statement, but I’ve seen him develop and Newcastle fans won’t thank me for saying this, but he really is that good.

“I think he could [go on to play for Real Madrid]. You think about other left-backs around the world. We’ll see this summer where he really is. He is top, top drawer.”


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Tottenham Make Move to Sign ‘Guaranteed Goalscorer’

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Tottenham might just have set their sights on a new striker as they look to bolster their attacking options this summer. Spurs are on a major recruitment drive, with Roberto De Zerbi and the club’s chiefs well aware that big squad changes are required to turn a relegation-battling team into one capable of fighting for Europe.

The board are set to back De Zerbi in the market, and we have already seen evidence of that with the signings of Andy Robertson and Marcos Senesi, while Savinho might just follow on a much pricier deal.

But the business won’t end there, with Tottenham still needing to improve a number of areas, including the striker position, which already has a hole.

Tottenham’s desperate need for a striker

Randal Kolo Muani protests to Peter Bankes

Spurs are already a striker short, given Randal Kolo Muani is headed back to PSG after a disappointing loan spell. There is uncertainty over Richarlison’s future, and whether the Brazilian stays or goes will condition whether De Zerbi ends up needing one or two new frontmen this summer.

There are also justified questions over Dominic Solanke’s long-term future at the club given his injury issues and lack of goalscoring form, but the Englishman will be safe for the coming season, with Spurs likely highly reluctant to find themselves in a position where they need to sign three new frontmen.

Asllani emerges as option

Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi looks on during Brighton draw

One of the latest strikers linked with a Spurs switch is Hoffenheim’s up-and-coming frontman Fisnik Asllani. The 23-year-old scored 11 goals across all competitions in the season just gone, including 10 Bundesliga goals.

According to SportsBoom, Spurs have joined Ipswich Town, RB Leipzig and Barcelona in expressing an interest in the forward. Although, the Tractor Boys could drop out given their recruitment will likely be altered by the surprise exit of Kieran McKenna.

Asllani is a 6ft 3ins striker who is more of the hold-up mould, which does suit Tottenham’s current style of play, though he is clearly capable of finding the net given his solid return in Bundesliga this season.

Hoffenheim managing director Andreas Schicker said of the striker last season: “Fisnik is a highly talented striker who more than just hinted at his potential during his loan spell. His goals and assists speak for themselves. We’re absolutely convinced that he will take the next steps in his career with us and that he will bring us all a great deal of joy in the future.”

His former youth coach at Union Berlin, Andre Hofschneider, said: “He’s a guaranteed goal scorer. He always makes things look so easy. He knows how football works.”

Hoffenheim have the forward under contract until 2029 as things stand, and a reported asking price of between £21.5million and £26million has been floated this summer.

As far as Spurs are concerned, it’s not likely Asllani would be signed as the starting striker, but he could form part of the striker’s department as he continues to develop, with De Zerbi likely to carry three options up top into the coming season.


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Man Utd Green Light £100m Transfer Spend

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Manchester United are ready to sanction two more midfield signings, even after they have confirmed a deal to sign Ederson from Atalanta.

Ederson looks set to be Michael Carrick’s first new signing as permanent manager at Old Trafford, with a £38million deal agreed bar the official confirmation.

United have always been in the market for more than one central midfielder this summer, though, and it is being reported that the Red Devils are ready to green light deals for two more signings in that department.

Anderson transfer looks like a no-go

Elliot Anderson in England training Jim Rassol/IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters

With a move to sign Elliot Anderson, who had been the club’s number one transfer priority in the summer window, likely to be off, with Sir Jim Ratcliffe and the United hierarchy unwilling to enter into a bidding war and pay over the odds for the 23-year-old England international, attention will turn back to some of their other targets.

They have been linked with the likes of Mateus Fernandes, Carlos Baleba, Aurelien Tchouameni, Sandro Tonali and Alex Scott so far this summer and according to the Sun, two more of those players could arrive at Old Trafford before the summer transfer window closes.

Fernandes is the name in the frame at the moment, although West Ham appear unwilling to budge on their £80million valuation of the Portuguese, despite their relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season.

The Hammers will hope to start a bidding war for the 21-year-old with Champions League winner Paris Saint-Germain also credited with an interest.

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Having dropped out of the race for Anderson for those very reasons, United may be forced to move on to other opportunities. Bournemouth are also demanding £80million for Alex Scott, while GIVEMESPORT understands that Brighton will not entertain any offers below the £70million mark for Baleba. Tonali, meanwhile, is likely to command a £100million fee from Newcastle United.

United still have £100m to spend on midfielders

Manchester United caretaker manager Michael Carrick claps the fans

With Ederson all but through the door, United will definitely be looking for one more midfielder and they will give the green light to a second midfielder signing if Manuel Ugarte follows Casemiro out of the club.

The Uruguayan is not in Carrick’s plans heading into the 2026/27 season and United will listen to offers for the 25-year-old this summer.

If that was to be the case, United would distribute the £100million they have earmarked for a midfielder signing across two separate deals to follow Ederson to Old Trafford.


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