New era in football: Morocco’s coach raises the “purple card” and calls a challenge

The quarter-final betwixt Morocco and France astatine the U20 World Cup drew planetary attention—not lone for its melodramatic punishment shootout, but besides for a groundbreaking innovation that could reshape football.

Morocco’s coach, Mohamed Ouahbi, became the first manager ever to usage the “purple card”, a caller instrumentality allowing coaches to situation a referee’s determination and petition a video reappraisal done the Football Video Support (FVS) system.

The incidental occurred successful the 72nd minute, erstwhile a Moroccan guardant was brought down wrong France’s punishment area. Referee Gustavo Tejera allowed play to continue, but Ouahbi contested the call, demanding a video review.

Although Tejera upheld his archetypal determination aft reviewing the footage, the infinitesimal was historical — it marked the first authoritative use of the FVS “purple card” successful a planetary tournament.

On the field, Morocco celebrated a stunning victory implicit favorites France, with third-choice goalkeeper Abdelhakim El Mesbahi emerging arsenic the leader successful the punishment shootout. A striking detail: his h2o vessel featured a printed illustration showing the apt shooting directions of the French players.

According to FIFA, the FVS strategy does not regenerate VAR but offers a more accessible alternative for tournaments with constricted resources. Pierluigi Collina, president of FIFA’s Referees Committee, stated that the system’s extremity is “to marque exertion accessible to smaller leagues, enhancing fairness and transparency successful the game.”

Morocco present advances to the U20 World Cup final, wherever they volition look Argentina connected October 19.