A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits any of the following seven offenses (mandatory cautions are shown in bold print):

1. is guilty of unsporting behavior (UB)

1. Commits a penal foul in a reckless manner
2. Commits a penal foul while tackling for the ball from behind without endangering the safety of an opponent
3. Commits a tactical foul designed to interfere with or impede an opposing team’s attacking play (e.g., pushing an opponent, holding an opponent or an opponent’s uniform, handling the ball deliberately)
4. Commits an act deemed by the referee as bringing the game into disrepute (e.g., aggressive attitude, inflammatory behavior, or taunting)
5. Handles the ball deliberately to score a goal
6. Fakes an injury or exaggerates the seriousness of an injury
7. Fakes a foul (dives) or exaggerates the severity of a foul
8. Interferes with or prevents the goalkeeper from releasing the ball from his hands into play
9. Verbally distracts an opponent during play or at a restart
10. Unfairly distracts or impedes an opponent performing a throw-in
11. Changes jerseys with the goalkeeper during play or without the referee’s permission (both players must be cautioned)
12. Engages in trickery to circumvent the goalkeeper’s limitation on handling the ball played from a teammate’s foot (the defender who initiates the “trickery” is cautioned, the decision does not require that the goalkeeper actually handles the ball, and the misconduct can occur during dynamic play or at a restart)

2. shows dissent by word or action (DT)

1. Verbally or through action disputes or shows contempt for an official’s decision
2. If playing as a goalkeeper, leaves the penalty area (not beckoned by the referee) to engage an official in debate regarding a decision

3. persistently infringes the Laws of the Game (PI)

1. Repeatedly fouls or participates in a pattern of fouls directed at an opponent
2. Violates Law 14 again, having previously been warned
3. If playing as goalkeeper, wastes time, having previously been warned or penalized for this behavior

4. delays the restart of play (DR)

1. Kicks or throws the ball away or holds the ball to prevent a free kick restart by an opponent
2. Kicks or throws the ball away or holds the ball to prevent a throw-in or corner kick by an opponent
3. Fails to restart play after being instructed to do so by the referee or hinders the restart of play
4. Excessively celebrates a goal
5. Fails to return to the field upon conclusion of the midgame break, fails to perform a kick-off when signaled to do so by the referee, or fails to be in a correct position for a kick-off

5. fails to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick or free kick (FRD)

1. Does not retire at least ten yards away from an opponent’s free kick
2. Does not retire at least ten yards away from an opponent’s corner kick

6. enters or re-enters the field of play without the referee’s permission (E)

1. Having previously been substituted (unless the rules of competition allow such return)
2. After having previously been instructed to leave the field to correct equipment
3. After having previously been given permission by the referee to leave the field due to an injury
4. After having previously been instructed to leave the field due to bleeding or blood on the uniform
5. As a substitute, without having received a signal to do so by the referee

1. To place an opponent in an apparent offside position
2. Other than through the normal course of play

The actions listed above assist in defining the scope of the basis for a caution and can provide a useful guide in identifying the specific behavior which the Laws of the Game consider unacceptable. It is critical, however, for Referees to distinguish between those relatively few actions for which a caution is mandated by the Laws of the Game and the remaining actions for which a caution is discretionary.