What are the rules on yellow and red cards this season? Premier League suspensions and new guidelines explained
The 2023/24 Premier League season is set to see more bookings than ever as law makers clamp down on discipline across the game.
The revamped rules were put into action during Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Manchester City and sparked fierce debate.
Arteta was the first manager to be brandished with a yellow cardGetty
Mikel Arteta was shown a yellow card for his touchline antics after demanding Rodri get booked with the full list of rules found here.
But with so many more cautions expected in the upcoming campaign, talkSPORT.com takes a look at the new guidelines…
What are the rules on yellow cards?
Any Premier League star who accumulates five cautions inside the first 19 league games of the season will be suspended for one-match.
Crucially, yellow card bans – unlike reds – no longer carry over into either of the domestic competitions or indeed Europe.
The 19-game mark offers players a slight reprieve, but suspensions then become more severe if 10 yellow cards are racked up.
Those who have double figure cautions to their name before, and including, the 32nd game of the season will be suspended for a further two-games.
Premier League rule changes
Automatic yellow card for whenever more than one player approaches the referee
Automatic yellow card whenever a player runs from a distance to speak to officials
Automatic yellow card whenever there is more than one coach in the technical areas
Harsher penalties for managers who leave their technical area and/or show aggressive behaviour towards officials
Bosses who receive a red card will NOT be able to watch the rest of the match from the stands
Referees are now obliged to time game stoppages for goals, celebrations, substitutions and injuries
Yellow cards for time-wasting from the clear and obvious (kicking the ball away), to the more subtle (delaying goal-kicks)
Higher threshold applied to contact between players
Officials will clamp down on players surrounding the refereeGetty
There are a number of new rule changes for the new seasonAFP
What are the rules on red cards?
As with the case last season, Premier League players will be suspended for three games if they are dismissed for violent conduct.
That can either be extended or reduced upon review, as was the case with Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic, with no maximum limit in place.
A two-match ban will be issued if players are sent off for dissent.
Unlike yellow cards, a ban from a red card will apply to all domestic competitions but it doesn’t carry over to UEFA tournaments.
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The 2020/21 Premier League season is here and the introduction of new rules has kickstarted a period of rigorous rule enforcement for those playing in the world’s most watched league. This season, the rules surrounding yellow and red cards have been modified in order to further promote fair play. The following guide explains how Premier League suspensions and new guidelines can help ensure a smooth season.
With regards to yellow and red cards, yellow card offences will remain the same as in years gone by. Fouls, dissent, time-wasting, and other unsporting behaviour can all be punished by the referee issuing a player a yellow card. The big change this season is that an accumulation of five yellow cards in any given season can trigger a one-match ban. This is down from the usual ten yellow cards which in years gone by would trigger a one-match suspension.
The ruling surrounding red cards has also changed. The season’s so-called “high tackle protocol” sees red cards issued more frequently for dangerous challenges which could endanger the safety of an opponent. The use of so-called ‘straight reds’ will now carry a suspension of at least three matches.
The newly-introduced guidelines should help to further promote adherence to the laws of the game. Players who transgress these rules can expect to be banned for longer periods, thus making it harder for those inside the Premier League to continue to commit offences.
Player suspensions for yellow and red cards depend on the division in which a particular team is playing in. The Premier League has a total of nine divisions, each with its own specific set of rules. For example, players in the top two tiers must serve a minimum three-match ban for receiving a red card, while those in the bottom seven divisions must serve a minimum of one game suspension.
It is hoped that these new rules will help further promote sporting behaviour throughout the Premier League season. With the introduction of the high tackle protocol, referees can quickly identify dangerous challenges and issue suspensions accordingly. Hopefully, the new regulations will help lead to a season with fewer injuries and more sporting behaviour on the field of play.