Question Number: 22982

Law 5 - The Referee 3/23/2010

RE: Rec/Select Adult

Peter of Pleasant Hill, CA USA asks...

I was watching a high school match recently. The referee signaled for a corner kick. A player approached the goalie for the ball and was backhanded in the face. The center ran over to the players crossed his arms with yellow cards in both hands raised above the two players. The referee seemed to enjoy this move and was happy with his stylish move.

Now my question. In this instance, should you simultaneously show two yellows or one yellow, then another? I have never seen this done before. Any comments about proper soccer procedures.

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Referee Peter
This would not be the correct cautioning procedure but I have seen it done by one European referee. The correct procedure is to show the yellow card to one player followed by a repeat showing to the second player. In my opinion the referee should not draw attention to himself in the caution process and the use of the cards is merely a simple aid for better communication. Referees should not use either card in an aggressive or provocative manner likely to inflame an already emotive situation. Neither should the cards be used in an over-demonstrative manner, which may humiliate a player and perhaps cause him to overreact or undermine the reason for the caution
Also a backhand into the face is a serious offence and it would merit a dismissal.

Answer provided by Referee Dennis Wickham

There was a video recently of a referee in a European professional match who took one yellow card from each pocket in his jersey and raised both cards to caution two opposing players. The video was shared by many referees. I suspect the referee had been waiting for an opportunity to try it. (The referee added the high school signal for timeout to caution - crossing the arms - to his performance.)

It is unfortunate, however, that the referee gave the appearance of enjoying cautioning players, particularly when dealing with violence. Contact above the shoulder is a very serious transgression, and usually will merit a disqualification (high school)/ sendoff (TLOG)

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Oh, goodness! A backhand slap gets a caution? Wow. Unless there are extenuating circumstances not listed, one has to wonder why the referee did not give a straight red card here for exhibiting violent conduct.

The dual card demonstration is showboating and totally uncalled for behavior. It is hard to imagine why both players received a card, since the ball by rights belongs to the kicking team, and the referee should have been facilitating the transfer of the ball instead of allowing these opponents to get into a fracas.

One also wonders if the referee was planning on doing this ahead of time! Who carries two yellows at the ready? Most of us carry a spare, but it's not normally available to do the 'quick draw' routine.

NFHS procedures state the referee shows a card with the arm fully extended, which would normally mean only one card is shown at a time. The exception is the high school 'orange' card, where both the red and the yellow are shown together (in the same hand). But there is no provision for showing a card with each hand - either in HS or in regular USSF play.