Referee Eduardo Varela used an electronic device to display disciplinary cards during Nacional's 3–0 win over Rentistas in the Uruguay Cup on October 15. VnExpress's October 17 report described a trial to digitise officiating administration, rather than a worldwide change to football's laws.
The Uruguayan federation, AUF, developed the system with local technology company REFe. It combines colour display with player and match-event records.
Displaying and recording decisions
Varela said separate yellow and red physical buttons illuminate the corresponding colour. The referee then selects the player's shirt number on a touchscreen to record the decision.
Juan Pablo Plada received a yellow card in the twelfth minute of the featured match, and Nahuel Gelos was sent off in the eighty-ninth. Those events occurred in the October 15 cup fixture.
Data can be transferred to assistants and AUF's COMET platform. The device is also designed to record goals, substitutions and penalties, and operate without stadium Wi-Fi.
Visibility remains an issue
Earlier testing at Defensor Sporting's ground encountered brightness problems. The report said recognising colours from distance or behind the device remained difficult even under floodlights.
Varela reported similar feedback from relatives in the stands and suggested additional surrounding LEDs. That is a proposed improvement, not confirmation that the issue has been resolved.
AUF hopes to reduce paperwork and improve data updates, with VAR integration a possible future direction. The technology remains experimental. Positive comments about its usefulness do not establish IFAB approval to replace traditional cards globally or deployment by other leagues.