Know the rules before your star player misses a derby or cup final. Explore official yellow card accumulation thresholds, reset dates, and UEFA Champions League quarterfinal amnesty protocols.
Select a tournament and player card count to determine suspension vulnerability.
| Competition | 1st Suspension | 2nd Suspension | 3rd Suspension | Card Reset / Wipeout Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Premier League | 5 Yellows (1 match) | 10 Yellows (2 matches) | 15 Yellows (3 matches) | 5-card rule expires after MW 19; 10-card rule after MW 32 |
| UEFA Champions League | 3 Yellows (1 match) | 5 Yellows (1 match) | 7 Yellows (1 match) | Wiped clean after Quarterfinals (Article 52.04) |
| La Liga | 5 Yellows (1 match) | 10 Yellows (1 match) | 15 Yellows (1 match) | Cards reset to zero between separate seasons only |
| Serie A | 5 Yellows (1 match) | +4 Yellows = 9 (1 match) | +3 Yellows = 12 (1 match) | Progressive descending scale (5, 4, 3, 2, 1 card) |
| FIFA World Cup | 2 Yellows (1 match) | 4 Yellows (1 match) | N/A | Wiped clean after Quarterfinals |
Carries a mandatory 1-match suspension. Cannot be appealed unless mistaken identity occurred. Does not count toward violent conduct records.
A straight red card for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity carries a 1-match suspension (provided it was not violent or reckless dangerous conduct).
Carries an automatic 3-match suspension. Disciplinary panels reserve the authority to extend the ban to 4–6 matches for extreme, premeditated bodily harm.
Using offensive, insulting, or abusive language toward match officials carries a mandatory 2-match suspension plus substantial club fines.
In England, straight red card bans apply across all domestic first-team competitions (Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup). However, yellow card accumulation bans apply only to the specific competition where the cards were accumulated.
Prior to 2014, players who received a routine yellow card in the semifinals were suspended for the Champions League Final (such as Nedvěd in 2003 and Ballack in 2002 World Cup). UEFA and FIFA abolished this by wiping all cards after the quarterfinals, ensuring only a direct red card causes a player to miss the final.
Under UEFA Article 15, any player who deliberately seeks a yellow card (e.g. for time-wasting) to serve a suspension in a less important match and clear their record is sanctioned with an additional 1-match suspension for unsporting conduct.