"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 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 Faisal Saleh Hayat.
Faisal said that apart from fair play and manners, the green card concept reflects AFC's concern about safeguarding nature. The green colour represents purity of the environment.
Pakistan and host Iran, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Maldives, and Afghanistan are among the participants in the event of South Asian Zone of AFC U-13 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.
The PFF Chief said: "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," he said.