In a bid to modernize a longstanding football tradition, a digital system for issuing yellow and red cards was tested during a Uruguayan cup match earlier this month. Referee Eduardo Varela employed a phone-sized electronic device to caution players in Nacional’s Copa Uruguay game against Rentistas on October 15, replacing the conventional physical cards with a digital display.
The device, developed by the company REFe, records disciplinary actions with precise timestamps and is intended to streamline referees’ administrative responsibilities by digitizing the submission of official records to the Uruguayan Football Association’s COMET platform. Mauro Sacco, director of REFe, explained that the initiative began more than three years ago after he and fellow director Diego de la Pena observed the challenges of manual card recording during unfavorable weather conditions.
Despite Varela describing the device as comfortable and responsive, he acknowledged that the new method diminishes some of the traditional drama associated with the display of yellow and red cards. “You lose a little of the magic of the quick card, but I think it is something that will help us a lot, especially with the administrative side,” he said.
However, the trial revealed notable visibility challenges. An earlier experiment had been discontinued because glare from sunlight made the digital screen difficult to see. During the most recent match, both spectators in the stadium and television viewers faced difficulties distinguishing the colors and signals displayed on the device. De la Pena remarked that while the device looked clearer in the live setting, improvements are necessary to ensure visibility for all audiences, emphasizing that “the yellow card has to be yellow, the red card has to be red, and it has to be visible to people at the ground and on television.”
To address these issues, the developers are considering enhancements such as adding LED lighting around the device to improve colour clarity. The technology, which has been patented alongside its software, is currently produced in China, with the brand officially registered.
Public reaction to the innovation has been mixed, attracting a range of comments online. Sacco noted that the company has received both positive and negative feedback, including humorous responses, and stressed that ongoing dialogue is a normal part of integrating new technologies into the sport.
REFe aims to further refine the system with the goal of securing adoption by South America's governing body CONMEBOL and ultimately by FIFA, the global football authority. The trial represents an early step towards digitizing one of football’s oldest and most symbolic disciplinary practices.