Question Number: 16783

Law 12 - Fouls and Misconduct 9/19/2007

RE: competitive College

Sandile R Mamba of Mbabane, Swazilad asks...

I need clarity as to what happens if an already booked/cautined player committs a foul deserving a straight red card.Do I start by showing him the yellow then the red(this is misconduct deserving a straight red).If I show the red card without showing the other yellow; how many games does he sit out accordig to FIFA?

Answer provided by Referee Michelle Maloney

Each misconduct stands on its own. If a player earns a caution, he is on notice to discontinue his inappropriate behavior (whichever of the seven cautionable offenses he earned). If the player commits misconduct under one of the seven sending off offenses, then give him a red card. It doesn not matter that he already has a yellow card, and you do not need to give a second caution first - the second caution is only one of the seven red card offenses. How long the player sits out depends on the league rules under which he plays.

Answer provided by Referee Steve Montanino

You would not need to show a second yellow card, you would simply take the players info, tell him that he's going off and why and show the red card.

Answer provided by Referee Gary Voshol

In addition, your game report would note both the caution and the send-off as separate incidents. That may be important to the league when they are deciding on any penalties, fines or suspensions.