In every soccer match that involves a referee, there are 2 colors of "cards" which the referee will hold up to indicate serious fouls or behavior which won't be tolerated.
Soccer Yellow Card -
A Yellow Card indicates a formal "caution" for any of the following 7 offenses:
- "unsporting behavior" - this includes hard fouls; holding an opponent or deliberately handling the ball for the purpose of preventing an opponent from gaining possession of the ball; faking an injury; saying things that are designed to confuse or distract an opponent; harassment (such as jumping around, shouting or making gestures to intentionally distract an opponent; jumping in front of a corner kick, free kick or throw-in; worrying the goalkeeper or trying to prevent him from putting the ball into play; & adopting a threatening posture), gaining an unfair advantage by leaning on, climbing on the back of, or holding a teammate or the goal; blatant cases of holding and pulling an opposing player or his uniform; any action designed to deceive the Referee; and behavior which in the Referee's judgment is unsporting or causes an unfair advantage,
- dissent by word or actions,
- persistently breaking the rules,
- delaying the restart of play,
- defenders failing to stay the proper distance away from the kicker on a corner kick, free kick or throw-in,
- entering or re-entering the field without the referee's permission
- deliberately leaving the field without the referees permission.
Soccer Red Card - A player must be shown a Red Card and "sent off" (i.e., made to leave the field) for the 7 offenses:
- serious foul play (includes any use of excessive force or brutality against an opponent when challenging for the ball. Examples include a dangerous slide tackle from behind, or an "over the top tackle" in which a player raises his foot so the cleats could hit a player, or a two footed tackle that takes down the opponent. FIFA has broadened this definition by saying that "Any player who lunges at an opponent in challenging for the ball from the front, from the side or from behind using one or both legs, with excessive force and endangering the safety of an opponent is guilty of serious foul play.
- violent conduct,
- spitting at anyone,
- deliberately touching the ball with a hand in order to prevent a goal or to deny an obvious goal scoring opportunity (such as to prevent a "Breakaway".... this does not apply to the goalkeeper within his own Penalty Box)
- fouling an opponent to prevent an obvious goal scoring opportunity (e.g., holding to stop a breakaway),
- using offensive, insulting or threatening language and/or gestures,
- or receiving a second yellow card in one game
A player who receives 2 Yellow Cards is given a Red Card and will be ejected
Any player who is given a red card will be issued a 1 game suspension from the league. NPSC will issue a second game suspension for any hard red cards that are given. Any player who is given two yellow cards equalling a red will be given a one game suspension from the league. The soccer committee will review all reports of yellow cards equalling red being issued to see if any additional game suspension will be issued.