Yellow and red cards in football were introduced as a way to clearly and universally communicate a referee’s decision to players and spectators, regardless of language barriers. You can win in online betting with 1xBet, where wagers on whether a footballer will get a card are featured too.
The idea originated with English referee Ken Aston during the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Aston, who had also officiated the infamous 1962 World Cup match between Chile and Italy (known as the “Battle of Santiago”), recognized the need for a standardized system. If you like the FIFA World Cup, you can also win in the online betting section of 1xBet platform by wagering on it too.
During the 1966 tournament, after a match between England and Argentina, there was confusion over whether England’s Jack Charlton had been cautioned. This incident inspired Aston to think about a better way to communicate disciplinary actions.
An unlikely source of inspiration
While driving one day, Aston noticed traffic lights: yellow for caution and red for stop. If you go to http://1xbet.co.ke/en/line/football it will also be possible to bet on what referees do as well.
That analogy sparked the idea of using cards with the same colors in football. Yellow would signal a warning (caution), and red would mean expulsion (sending-off). This visual system would overcome language differences and clearly inform everyone of the referee’s decisions, including 4 key people:
- players;
- coaches;
- fans;
- and media.
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Rolling out the new system
FIFA officially introduced the yellow and red card system at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. It was a historic change that has remained ever since. The first player to receive a red card in a World Cup was Chile’s Carlos Caszely in 1974. You can also try live football betting of matches featuring the Chilean national side too.
Since their introduction, yellow and red cards have become an integral part of football, used in nearly every competitive match worldwide. They have helped standardize discipline, improve player behavior, and enhance the clarity of refereeing decisions on the field. Today, even with advancements like VAR (Video Assistant Referee), the card system remains a central element of football’s rules and culture, a testament to Ken Aston’s simple yet brilliant innovation. Speaking about VAR, the football online betting section of 1xBet live also allows its members to wager on things decided with this system as well.
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