Question Number: 35586

Law 5 - The Referee 6/20/2024

RE: Adult

Steve of Brighton, UK asks...

Hello! I have seen instances of players or staff being given yellow or red cards after the full-time whistle has been blown. Is there a rule on the start or finish of when a person is eligible to be given a card?

For example, can a player be given a card for bad conduct when they first arrive at the game, when they are stood in the tunnel, on the pitch before kick-off, and then does it go on until they leave the ground, can they still be booked in the tunnel after the game, etc?

Answer provided by Referee Joe McHugh

Hi Steve
Yes a referee has the authority to take disciplinary action against anyone listed on the match card from entering the field of play for the pre-match inspection until leaving the field of play after the match ends (including kicks from the penalty mark). If, before entering the field of play at the start of the match, a player commits a sending-off offence, the referee has the authority to prevent the player taking part in the match (see Law 3.6) the referee will report any other misconduct.

On the field of play and surrounds cards are displayed while off the field cards are not shown with the offender/s simply told that they are being reported for misconduct.

Answer provided by Referee Richard Dawson

Hi Steve,
red cards can be shown in the walk up to the game while in the change rooms even before kick off. The teams are informed and the number of substitutes is NOT affected only the numbers on the bench to serve as substitutes as the starting player can no longer take part of the match. The team STILL starts with a full compliment of 11 players. Just one dude is surprised to be playing earlier than imagined! lol One teams are on their way onto the FOP prior to kick off we can still warn players of cautionable conduct but the need to show a yellow card is not deemed necessary! Such behaviour is RECORDED as misconduct but it does not count to the 2 cautions allowed during a match. Sort of weird in truth but that is how they wanted it to go down. So it is possible you could double caution a player on the FOP thus a red card send off reducing his team by a player and again before or after off the FOP should he or she act silly they are only warned of the written report going to be filed.

While we could show cards as players are exiting the FOP, seen it done a time or two usually for abusing or dissenting the referee or ARS last minute decisions. Again record the misconduct and if it continues, say in the parking lot or later in change rooms, a supplementary report of unsavory conduct is going to do those player very little good is it now?
Cheers