Uruguay trials virtual cards in Copa Uruguay match between Nacional and Rentistas

A referee used a handheld device resembling a mobile phone to show the first “virtual cards” in a competitive football match during Nacional’s 3-0 victory over Rentistas in the Copa Uruguay.

The trial took place in the round of 16, with referee Eduardo Varela using the device as an alternative to the traditional yellow and red cards.

Varela issued three yellow cards and one red card during the match. The result sent Nacional through after they secured a 3-0 win over Rentistas.

Marcelo de Leon, president of the Uruguayan Football Referees Association, described the initiative as an important experiment.

“It is a very interesting project. We call it virtual cards,” he said.

The device is designed to record and display key match incidents, including disciplinary decisions, substitutions and penalties. It is intended to support the referee’s administrative work rather than simply replace the cards currently used on the pitch.

De Leon said the system had already been tested at the home ground of Defensor, where some issues were identified.

“We carried out a test at Defensor’s stadium and encountered some difficulties related to the brightness of the screen,” he said.

According to a report by Uruguayan newspaper El Pais, the equipment has a similar appearance to a mobile phone but is lighter and does not need a Wi-Fi connection to operate.

The technology is linked directly to events during the match, allowing information to be entered and transmitted as decisions are made. Its intended use extends beyond senior football and includes development-age competitions.

“This technology represents an improvement in the referee’s administrative tasks, even at youth development level,” De Leon said.

He added that the project was being developed jointly by the Uruguayan Football Association and a private-sector partner.

Its broader purpose is to ensure that match information is transferred in real time to the COMET system and the association’s own system. There is also the possibility of establishing a direct connection with media organisations in the future.

“The aim is to guarantee the instant transmission of information to the COMET system and the association’s system, with the possibility of a direct link to the media in the future,” De Leon said.

“There are no limits to what technology can achieve.”