A yellow card in football means the referee has officially cautioned a player or team official for a rule break or unsporting behavior. It is usually a warning rather than an immediate expulsion, but two yellow cards in the same match become a red card and the player is sent off.

What it means

A yellow card tells everyone that the referee has recorded the offense and the person must be more careful for the rest of the match. It is often called “being booked.”

Common reasons

Typical reasons include:

  • Reckless tackles.
  • Dissent toward the referee.
  • Time-wasting.
  • Simulation or pretending to be fouled.
  • Unsporting behavior.

What happens next

A player can usually stay in the game after one yellow card. If they get a second yellow in the same match, they are shown a red card and must leave the field immediately.

Simple example

If a defender makes a late challenge that is not serious enough for a red card, the referee may show a yellow card as a warning. If that same player later argues aggressively with the referee, they could get another yellow and be sent off.