Cheat Sheet
All the penal and non-penal fouls and the Red and Yellow Card offenses summarized in a single table and a checklist of matters to be covered in pre-game instructions by Referees to Assistant Referees.
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[row] [half_column]Penal (Direct Free Kick)
- Kicking or trying to kick opponent
- Tripping or trying to kick opponent
- Jumping at opponent
- Charging opponent
- Holding opponent
- Striking or trying to strike opponent
- Pushing opponent
- Above require offense to be commited in a manner considered to be “careless, reckless, or using excessive force”
- Tackle an opponent to gain possesion, making contact with opponent first
- Holding an opponent
- Spitting at opponent
- Handling ball deliberately (includes goal keeper outside box)
Non-Penal (Indirect Free Kick)
- Offside (no offside for throw in, corner kick or goal kick)
- Goalie takes longer than 6 seconds or touches ball with hand after release or after deliberate kick or throw from teammate
- Dangerous play (not “high kicking”)
- Impeding progress of an opponent (obstruction)
- Prevent goal keeper from release ball from hands
- Wasting time
- Touching the ball a second time after the ball is in play following a throw-in, goal kick, corner kick, penalty, or free kick
Caution – Yellow
- Unsporting behavior
- Dissent by word or action
- Persistent infringement
- Delays restart of play
- Fails to retreat required distance on free kicks or corner kicks
- Enters or re-enters withour referee’s permission
Send Off – Red
- Serious foul play
- Violent conduct
- Spits at opponent or other person
- Denies a goal or obvious goal scoring
- Opportunity by deliberately handling ball
- Denies an obvious goal scoring opportunity by an offense punishable by free kick or penalty kick
- Offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gesture
- Second caution
- Tackle from behind