Yellow card
A caution shown by an official to formally warn a player for misconduct or a serious foul.
Definition
In football and several other sports, a referee holds up a yellow card to caution a player for offences such as a reckless foul, unsporting behaviour or dissent. It acts as an official warning that is recorded for the match.
A player who receives a second yellow card in the same game is usually then shown a red card and sent off. In some sports a yellow card also means a short spell off the field before the player can return.
Where you’ll hear “yellow card”
Sports that use this term:
Football
The world’s most popular team sport — endless running, teamwork and community in one game.
Futsal
A fast, small-sided indoor form of football played on a hard court with a low-bounce ball.
Rugby
A physical team sport of carrying, passing and kicking an oval ball toward the opposing line.
Field Hockey
An outdoor team sport that uses curved sticks to move a ball, built on agility and teamwork.
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Officiating
- RefereeThe primary on-field official who enforces the rules, controls play, penalises fouls, awards restarts, and blows the whistle to start and stop a match.
- Penalty SignalA standardized hand or flag signal an official uses to announce a foul, penalty, or restart so players, teammates, and spectators can read the call.
- AdvantageIn many sports, officials let play continue after a foul when stopping would help the offender, so the fouled team keeps the advantage it has gained.
- Foul callA foul call is an official's ruling that a player broke a rule of contact or conduct, triggering a penalty such as a free kick, free throw or penalty.
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- Term
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
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- Content updated
- 2026-09-01
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