Cards are the referee's tool to control a match. We explain when yellow and red are shown, and what two bookings and a sending-off mean.
A yellow card is a warning, and a red card is a sending-off. The referee uses them to punish fouls and control discipline, and the severity depends on the type of offence.
When is a yellow card shown?
Yellow is shown for medium offences such as: rough play, time-wasting, dissent, stopping a promising attack, and entering or leaving without permission. It's a formal warning to the player to calm down.
The red card and sending-off
Red is shown for serious offences: a violent tackle, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity, spitting, or abuse. The sent-off player leaves and isn't replaced, so his team plays with ten men.
Two yellows equal a red
If a player receives two yellow cards in the same match, they become a red and he's sent off. That's why booked players avoid any reckless challenge for the rest of the game.
What happens after a sending-off?
The sent-off player usually misses one or more matches (a suspension), depending on the offence and the competition's rules. Follow analysis of refereeing and card decisions on Shahid Live.
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