Question Number: 22318

League Specific 10/21/2009

RE: Select Under 19

Tony of Brisbane, Queensland Australia asks...

Hi Ref,
My question is: Once a player receives a yellow card, what is the time the yellow card remains in effect with that player? Is it 2 games before it gets wiped off?
Thanks for your help.
Tony

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

If the player receives a second yellow card in the same game, he is sent off. That's per Law 12.

Some leagues have yellow-card accumulation rules that provide for suspensions for accumulating too many individually over the course of a season or competition. For example, in the group stage of the World Cup, if a player receives 2 yellow cards in different games, he is suspended for a game. Or there may be rules to not allow teams into post-season playoffs if the team has too many cards. These are on a league-by-league, competition-by-competition basis, so you will have to ask your local authorities.

Answer provided by Referee Jason Wright

As Ref Voshol said, if he receives a 2nd caution (yellow card) in the same match, he is sent off.

Most leagues have a rule where if a player accumulates a certain number of yellow cards throughout the entire season then that player will miss the next game. The exact number of cards varies, and the nature of the offence is also taken into consideration - and the number may also change in the finals.

You would have to contact your local football association to find out what their ruling is on accumulated cautions.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Tony
Yellow cards are accumulated until a suspension is served or the competitions ends. They are not wiped off by the passage of games. Usually League competitions will have a 3/5 yellow card rule resulting in a one game suspension while tournaments will have a 2 card suspension rule.
You should contact the league/competition authority for clarification on the accumulation figure for yellow cards that result in a player being suspended.
For instance in WC qualifiers a player who receives two yellow cards during the pool games misses the next match. Players with one yellow card in the pool games will now carry them into the final two leg playoff games or if they have already accumulated two with a 2nd in the final pool game they will miss the 1st leg of the play offs. . The cards will only be wiped off when the WC begins in South Africa next year.