Explained: A pink card?! New rule introduced at Copa America alongside yellow and red – but what is it for?

This summer’s Copa America, scheduled to take place in the United States from June 20 to July 14, will see referees wielding pink cards alongside the traditional yellow and red ones. The pink card signifies the need for a player to be substituted due to a suspected concussion or head injury. This new rule was passed ahead of the tournament as part of CONMEBOL’s ongoing efforts to prioritize player health and safety.

It allows for a sixth substitute to be introduced in matches if a player is suspected of suffering from a concussion. According to CONMEBOL, the process requires the team’s coach to inform the main referee or the fourth official, who will then show the pink card to indicate the substitution. Moreover, the opposing team will also be granted an additional substitute to maintain fairness in the game. This means both teams can potentially benefit from an extra substitution if a player suffers a head injury.

A statement from CONMEBOL read: “The CONMEBOL Directorate of Competitions and Operations announced that, to the five changes per team authorised by the regulations, a potential sixth will be added to take care of the health of the footballers. This is an extra substitution in the event of suspected head trauma and concussion. To do so, the main referee or the fourth referee must be informed and a pink card will be used.”

Once a player is substituted under the pink card rule, they are not allowed to return to the field of play. The affected player will be taken to the dressing room or a medical facility for further assessment and care. This ensures that the player receives appropriate medical attention and avoids the risks associated with returning to play prematurely. Team doctors must then complete and submit a detailed report to CONMEBOL’s medical commission within 24 hours, outlining the concussion assessment findings, regardless of whether the player was substituted or not. This documentation is crucial for monitoring and ensuring that concussion protocols are properly followed.

The introduction of the pink card follows the International Football Association Board (IFAB)’s approval of permanent concussion substitutions earlier this year. While this new law officially comes into effect from July 1, it allowed organisers to implement it ahead of schedule.

The pink card is the latest addition to football’s disciplinary tools, joining the well-known yellow and red cards. In recent years, white cards have also been introduced on rare occasions to recognize sporting gestures and fair play, highlighting the sport’s evolving nature to include more nuanced officiating methods.