Green Card signifies positive action and good mannerism : Faisal
Lahore, 5 Feb : “With referees more known for brandishing yellow and red cards for on-field offences, the green card has the opposite effect with the aim of promoting the positive side of football and its related activities. The promotion of the Green Card was at its peak on 1 September 2010 when AFC celebrates Asian Referees Day.
The Green Card was established in the AFC Festival of Football to identify good behaviour and sportsmanship and it will also be one of the main features during 33 matches of coming Yazd City’s AFC U13 Festival of Football,” said Pakistan Football Federation (PFF)’s President Makhdoom Syed Faisal Saleh Hayat who added that apart from fair play and manners, the green card concept reflects AFC’s concern about safeguarding nature. The green color represents purity of the environment.
Pakistan and host Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Maldives, Afghanistan are among the participants in the event of South Asian Zone of AFC U13 Festival of Football at Yazd City. The players born on or after 1 January 1998 will appear in the nine-nation show at Iran from 10-23 May 2011.
Also Chairman of AFC Disciplinary Committee and FIFA and World Cup 2010 Disciplinary Committee member, Faisal added: “The Green Cards was one of the criteria for to decide who will get possession of Fair Play Trophy along with cash prize in 13th National U13 Festival of Football. From the time children are introduced to football, we teach them the skills, and the don’ts. Much attention is given to things that they can’t do in the training or during a match. Nobody teaches them the right things to do and when they do the positive things, we show approval and appreciation. This is the idea and the spirit behind the Green Card.”
“Referees do not have to stop the play during 33 matches at Yazd City, to show the Green Card. They can do this immediately after the ball goes out of the playing area or stopped for any other reasons. The referees are encouraged to show positive body gestures as a sign of approval of the player’s positive action.”
Faisal, becoming first Pakistani ever to have been elected to the prestigious post of AFC Executive Committee during 24th AFC Congress in Doha, Qatar last month. concluded : “The behaviors, which are some of the exemplary situations, will be (1) Helping an injured player (2) Apologizing and shaking hands for unintentional foul play (3) Kicking the ball out of the playing area due to an injury to an opponent (4) Respecting the opponent by giving back the ball that was kicked out for an injury (5) Calming his team-mates (6) The team (including officials) did not receive any cautions or sent off’s and showed positive attitudes throughout the match. (Referee will show the cards to the team bench at the end of the final whistle).”