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Rules

Yellow and Red Card Rules

Complete guide to yellow and red card offenses in FIFA World Cup matches.

Quick Answer

Yellow cards are shown for offenses like persistent fouling, dissent, or time-wasting. Red cards are given for serious foul play, violent conduct, or two yellow cards in the same match. In the World Cup, two yellows in different matches result in a one-match ban.

Yellow Card

Warning - 2 yellows = red

Red Card

Sent off - team plays short

Football disciplinary system: Yellow = warning, Red = dismissal
Cards are used to discipline players for misconduct during matches.

Yellow Card Offenses

A yellow card is shown for:
• Unsporting behavior
• Dissent by word or action
• Persistent infringement of the rules
• Delaying restart of play
• Not respecting required distance at set pieces
• Entering/leaving without permission
• Deliberate handball (non-DOGSO)

Red Card Offenses

A red card is shown for:
• Serious foul play
• Violent conduct
• Spitting at an opponent or any other person
• Denying obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO) by handball
• DOGSO by foul (outside penalty area)
• Offensive, insulting or abusive language/gestures
• Receiving a second yellow card

Accumulation Rules in World Cup


• 2 yellow cards in different matches = 1 match suspension
• Yellow card count resets after quarter-finals
• Red card = automatic 1 match suspension (minimum)

DOGSO (Denial of Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity)

Factors considered:
• Distance to goal
• Direction of play
• Likelihood of keeping the ball
• Position of defenders

Frequently Asked Questions