The green card was used for the first time in football.

Vicenza striker Cristian Galano, from Serie B side Vicenza, became the first player to receive a green card for fair play.

Besides the commonly used yellow and red cards, last weekend, in the match between Vicenza and Virtus Entella in Serie B, for the first time in football history, referees used green cards.

At the start of this season, referees in the Italian second division discussed introducing the green card. This card would be intended to reward players for fair play.

Players will be rewarded for acts of fair play.

Striker Cristian Galano admitted that no Virtus Entella defender touched the ball before it went out of bounds. Initially, the referee awarded Vicenza a corner kick. But after Galano's confession, Virtus Entella were awarded a goal kick.

Serie B president Andrea Abodi admitted the green card would become symbolic. The manager hoped it would bring a positive light to a league mired in match-fixing scandals earlier in the season.

"It's a symbolic award. It could be something simple. The important thing is that it recognizes a player who has acted exemplarily," he said.

At the end of the season, the player who receives the most green cards will receive a special reward.

"We think football needs positive messages. The sport is often embroiled in controversies that alienate people from the stadiums," Abodi said.

According to VNE