Penalty Cards in Soccer: History and Meaning of Red and Yellow Cards

Penalty cards are used in a number of different European sports as a way for the referee to communicate warnings and punishments without having to use any language or risk being misunderstood. They are most famously used in Soccer, especially during the World Cup when big fouls happen because of what is at stake. Learn everything you need to know about penalty cards: their origin, what they mean, and why referees use them.

The Origin

Colored penalty cards originated with a British football referee named Ken Aston. He was appointed to the FIFA Referees' Committee for the 1966 World Cup. After the quarterfinals game, the press spoke of the confusion about the referees decisions in the game. Aston thought that there should be a better way for the referees to communicate to the spectators about their warnings to players so the card system was invented. He decided that the colors of a traffic light would be the best way to get the idea of warnings and removals from the game to an international audience. They were first used in the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Yellow Card

The Yellow Card is used in a few different sports with different meanings but in soccer it is an official caution given to a player for misconduct. A player who is cautioned is "booked" in the official's notebook. In tournaments and leagues, the accumulation of yellow cards leads to a red card. Yellow cards are meant to act as warnings, but two in the same tournament or game equals a red card for repeated offense. There are many offenses that cause a yellow card including unsportsman-like behavior, dissent by word or action, delaying the game, and others.

Red Card

A red card is given for serious offenses like a violent foul, spitting at someone, using your hands illegally to prevent a goal, or using offensive language or gestures. A red card means immediate removal of that player from the game and no other player can be subbed in to your missing spot. A red card also means that you cannot play in the next game at all.

The use of these two kinds of cards make for a simple way to communicate infringements of rules in the game of soccer.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penalty_card