When is a card red or yellow?

Wayne Rooney receives the dreaded red

The different fouls that make the ref get out the red or yellow card.

There are seven different offences that can get you a yellow card:


Anything that can be deemed as unsporting behaviour

Dissent by word or action

Persistent infringement of the laws, for example, a series of fouls

Delaying the restart of play

Not retreating the required distance at a free-kick or corner

Entering or re-entering the pitch without the referee's permission

Deliberately leaving the pitch without the referee's permission

A player is sent off and shown the red card if they commit any of the following seven offences.


Serious foul play

Violent conduct, such as throwing a punch

Spitting at an opponent or another person

A player other than the goalkeeper denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball

Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player's goal by an offence punishable by a free-kick or a penalty kick

Using offensive or insulting or abusive language and/or gestures

Receiving a second caution in the match