Spectators of the match between Sporting Lisbon and Benfica witnessed another football moment during which the referee used a white card.

A card applauding “fair play” has fallen out of the pocket of referee Katarina Campos for the first time in professional football history, according to sports media.

Benfica were leading 3-0 on Sunday when medics from both teams rushed to the aid of a fan who collapsed in the stands shortly before 44 minutes had been played.

The audience cheered for Campos’ decision to show the white award card to the doctors, who were applauded when they returned to the team benches.

The medical teams of Benfica and Sporting CP received an empty card after treating a man who became ill on the bench 👏 pic.twitter.com/ihin0FAlJF

— B24 (@B24PT) January 21, 2023

While yellow and red cards are used as a punishment for incorrect or inappropriate behavior by players or coaches, a white card is shown in Portugal to recognize and praise fair play.

It is an initiative of the Portuguese Football Federation under the National Plan for Ethics in Sport (PNED).

In the sports part of the match, Benfica won with a score of 5:0 and advanced to the semi-finals of the women’s league.

Saturday’s derby will also go down in history for another reason, according to ESPN, as Portugal set a new women’s football attendance record with 15,032 in the stands.

Source: ESPN