Cards are the referee's way of punishing misconduct. A yellow card is a caution; a red card sends a player off for the rest of the match.
Yellow card offences
A player is cautioned for, among other things:
- unsporting behaviour, such as a reckless tackle, simulation or a tactical foul that stops a promising attack;
- dissent by word or action;
- persistent fouling;
- delaying the restart of play;
- not respecting the required distance at a free kick or corner;
- entering or leaving the pitch without the referee's permission.
Red card offences
A player is sent off for:
- serious foul play, such as a tackle that endangers an opponent's safety;
- violent conduct;
- biting or spitting at someone;
- denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a deliberate handball;
- denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with an offence outside the penalty area;
- offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures;
- receiving a second yellow card in the same match.
The "triple punishment" change
Before 2016, a defender who denied a clear chance with a foul inside the penalty area conceded a penalty, was sent off and was suspended. Now, if the foul was an attempt to play the ball, the punishment is a penalty and a yellow card instead. Holding, pulling, pushing or handball offences in that situation still lead to a red card.
Suspensions
A red card leads to an automatic suspension for at least the next match. Competitions also set accumulation rules: in many tournaments, two yellow cards in different matches mean a one-match ban, and yellow cards are often wiped before the later knock-out rounds. These rules are set by each competition, not by the Laws of the Game.
Cards for coaches
Since 2019, team officials such as coaches can also be shown yellow and red cards for misconduct in the technical area.