“Virtual Cards” Are Being Tested in Uruguay

The Uruguayan Football Association, together with local specialists, has begun testing a new electronic device designed to replace referees’ traditional yellow and red cards, as well as paper notebooks.

Using the device, referees can issue warnings to players, send them off the field, and transmit all match information directly to the federation’s database.

Marcelo de Leon, head of the Football Referees Association, provided further details about the new project in an interview with “El Espectador” radio.

The device, known as the “virtual card,” consists of a large display and two buttons corresponding to the yellow and red colors.

To indicate a violation, the referee presses the appropriate button, and the relevant color appears on the screen instead of a traditional plastic card.

Engineers are currently working to ensure that the device’s display remains clearly visible under any lighting conditions.