Brazil wins the FIFA "Fair Play" Award

In a World Cup of a record number of red and yellow cards, this is something to be proud of.

Brazil, Spain awarded for Fair Play

Berlin, July 10. (PTI): There may have been a record 28 red cards in the World Cup, but two teams managed to keep their slate largely clean and walked off with the FIFA Fair Play Award 2006.

Brazil and Spain were chosen for the award by the FIFA Technical Study Group after picking up a total of 886 points out of 1,000.

The FIFA Fair Play Award is given to the team with the best record of Fair Play, sportsmanship and good conduct both on and off the pitch, according to a points system and criteria established by the FIFA Committee for Ethics and Fair Play.

Every single game at the tournament is evaluated according to these criteria, but only teams which reach the Round of 16 are considered eligible for the prize.

The squads will share the prestigious Trophy and also receive medals for each member of its playing and coaching staff, a certificate, and a voucher for $ 50,000 worth of sporting material to be used in youth development.

The evaluation is carried out according to six criteria, which place an emphasis on the positive rather than the negative aspects of a team's performance.

The number of cards a team receives is the only way that points can be deducted. The other criteria taken into consideration are: positive play; respect for opponents; respect for the officials; behaviour of the coaching staff and behaviour of supporters.

For Brazil it was the third time that they have won this award.

While the Brazilians may have shown only rare glimpses of their renowned jogo bonito here on German soil, they cannot be accused of not playing fair. Leading by example was Canarinho defender Lucio, who went more than four games without conceding a single free-kick. The Bayern Munich centre-back committed his first foul in his side's quarter-final defeat against France.