VICENZA'S Cristian Galano is the lucky recipient of football's first ever green card.

At the beginning of the season, Italy's second tier announced the scheme to reward players who show fair play.

And on Tuesday in north-western Italy, football witnessed a revolutionary moment as referee Marco Mainardi decided Galano deserved the honour of making history.

In the 53rd minute, Vicenza were awarded a corner, but forward Galano admitted that no Virtus Entella defender had touched the ball.

While the referees haven't actually been given physical green cards, all recipients will be documented with the player who gets the most rewarded at the end of the season.

But Serie B president Andrea Abodi said players will only receive the card if they perform an 'extraordinary act'.

"It's a symbolic award," said Abodi. "It could be something very simple. The important thing is to recognise it when a professional does something exemplary."

The start of the Serie B season was suspended due to a match fixing scandal which saw Catania relegated as a punishment, so the new scheme is the league's way of painting the Italian second tier in a more positive light.

"We think that football needs positive messages," said a Serie B spokesman.

"This sport is too often embroiled in controversy that drives people away from the stadiums."

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