Yellow and red cards were first introduced by British referee Ken Aston; he had the idea while sitting in his car waiting at traffic lights. Their first major use was in the 1970 World Cup. The system of cautioning and sending off existed prior to 1970; however, the use of coloured cards allows referees to convey their intentions directly regardless of the language spoken. The cards were only made mandatory at all levels in 1992.

In football, a yellow card is shown by the referee to indicate that a player has been officially cautioned. The player’s details are then recorded by the referee in a small notebook; hence a caution is also known as a booking. A player who has been cautioned may continue playing in the game.

A red card is shown by a referee to signify that a player has been sent off following serious misconduct. A player who has been sent off is required to leave the field of play immediately and must take no further part in the game.

The player who has been sent off cannot be replaced during the game; their team must continue the game with one player fewer.

A brief list of categories of serious misconduct for which a player may be sent off include:

• Serious foul play

• Violent conduct

• Spitting at anyone

• A deliberate hand ball to deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity

• Committing an offence that denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity

• Using offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures

• Receiving a second caution (yellow card) in one game.

wikipedia.org

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