Helping you to learn your rules and regs and stay the right side of the FA disciplinary process.
Cautions (Yellow Cards)
Accumulating five, ten, fifteen or twenty Cautions in league matches can result in an automatic ban in your relevant league. Accumulated Cautions in some cup competitions are specific to that competition and can result in an automatic ban from the cup competition in which the Cautions were received.
The cut-off points for receiving a sanction as a result of accumulating Cautions are outlined in the following tables:
*Please note the tables below are an indication of expected sanction. Members are advised to always check sanctions with the Football Association.
EFL Leagues/National League
|
Competition in which the Caution was accumulated |
Number of Cautions Accumulated |
Cut Off Point (Inclusive) |
Automatic Suspension for number of Cautions |
Competitions where automatic suspensions apply |
|
EFL Leagues |
5 |
19 EFL matches |
1 match |
EFL Leagues |
|
10 |
37 EFL matches |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
National League |
5 |
23 National League matches |
1 match |
National League |
|
10 |
37 National League matches |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
The FA WSL |
5 |
N/A |
1 match |
The FA WSL |
|
10 |
N/A |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
N/A |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
N/A |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
The FA WC |
5 |
N/A |
1 match |
The FA WC |
|
10 |
N/A |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
N/A |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
N/A |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
FA Cup |
4 (where Player’s Club enter in Qualifying Competition or First Round Proper) and for every two further cautions) |
Sixth Round (Quarter Finals) |
1 Match |
FA Cup |
|
2 (where Player’s Club enter in Third Round Proper) and for every two further cautions |
||||
|
EFL Cup |
2 |
Quarter Finals |
1 Match |
EFL Cup |
|
4 |
||||
|
EFL Trophy |
2 |
Quarter Finals |
1 Match |
EFL Trophy |
|
4 |
||||
|
FA Trophy |
2 |
Quarter Finals |
1 Match |
FA Trophy |
|
4 |
Steps 2-4
|
Competition in which the Caution was accumulated |
Number of Cautions Accumulated |
Cut Off Point |
Automatic Suspension for number of Cautions |
Fine |
Competitions where automatic suspensions apply |
|
National League (North and South Divisions), the Isthmian League, the Northern Premier League or the Southern League and League Cup competition |
5 |
30th November |
1 match |
£20 |
League in which player’s team competes and League Cup Competition |
|
10 |
Second Saturday in March |
2 matches |
|||
|
15 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
3 matches |
|||
|
20 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
Determined by regulatory commission |
|||
|
FA Cup |
4 and for every further 2 Cautions |
Sixth Round (Quarter-Finals) |
1 match |
N/A |
FA Cup Only |
|
FA Trophy |
4 and for every further 2 Cautions |
Quarter-Finals |
1 match |
N/A |
FA Trophy Only |
Cautions (Yellow Cards)
Accumulating five, ten, fifteen or twenty Cautions in league matches can result in an automatic ban in your relevant league. Accumulated Cautions in some cup competitions are specific to that competition and can result in an automatic ban from the cup competition in which the Cautions were received.
The cut-off points for receiving a sanction as a result of accumulating Cautions are outlined in the following tables:
*Please note the tables below are an indication of expected sanction. Members are advised to always check sanctions with the Football Association.
EFL Leagues/National League
|
Competition in which the Caution was accumulated |
Number of Cautions Accumulated |
Cut Off Point (Inclusive) |
Automatic Suspension for number of Cautions |
Competitions where automatic suspensions apply |
|
EFL Leagues |
5 |
19 EFL matches |
1 match |
EFL Leagues |
|
10 |
37 EFL matches |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
National League |
5 |
23 National League matches |
1 match |
National League |
|
10 |
37 National League matches |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
The FA WSL |
5 |
N/A |
1 match |
The FA WSL |
|
10 |
N/A |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
N/A |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
N/A |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
The FA WC |
5 |
N/A |
1 match |
The FA WC |
|
10 |
N/A |
2 matches |
||
|
15 |
N/A |
3 matches |
||
|
20 |
N/A |
As determined by a Regulatory Commission |
||
|
FA Cup |
4 (where Player’s Club enter in Qualifying Competition or First Round Proper) and for every two further cautions) |
Sixth Round (Quarter Finals) |
1 Match |
FA Cup |
|
2 (where Player’s Club enter in Third Round Proper) and for every two further cautions |
||||
|
EFL Cup |
2 |
Quarter Finals |
1 Match |
EFL Cup |
|
4 |
||||
|
EFL Trophy |
2 |
Quarter Finals |
1 Match |
EFL Trophy |
|
4 |
||||
|
FA Trophy |
2 |
Quarter Finals |
1 Match |
FA Trophy |
|
4 |
Steps 2-4
|
Competition in which the Caution was accumulated |
Number of Cautions Accumulated |
Cut Off Point |
Automatic Suspension for number of Cautions |
Fine |
Competitions where automatic suspensions apply |
|
National League (North and South Divisions), the Isthmian League, the Northern Premier League or the Southern League and League Cup competition |
5 |
30th November |
1 match |
£20 |
League in which player’s team competes and League Cup Competition |
|
10 |
Second Saturday in March |
2 matches |
|||
|
15 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
3 matches |
|||
|
20 |
Last day of the relevant League playing season prior to the play-off matches |
Determined by regulatory commission |
|||
|
FA Cup |
4 and for every further 2 Cautions |
Sixth Round (Quarter-Finals) |
1 match |
N/A |
FA Cup Only |
|
FA Trophy |
4 and for every further 2 Cautions |
Quarter-Finals |
1 match |
N/A |
FA Trophy Only |
Please note that this is only provided for guidance as to the rules and regs and for full details, please be sure to see
– The FA Handbook 2021-22 and https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/rules-of-the-association/2021-22/disciplinary-regulations.ashx.
