| A soccer referee is the unbiased judge who is | | | | 6. - Entering and re-entering the field of play without |
| charged with ensuring a soccer match is played in | | | | referee's permission |
| accordance to the Laws of the Game. He is | | | | 7. - Deliberately leaving the field of play without the |
| responsible for order and discipline on the field from | | | | referee's permission |
| the moment he enters the field of play until he | | | | A red card is shown to a player if he commits any of |
| leaves the field of play after the final whistle. | | | | the following 7 offenses: |
| His two tools of discipline are the yellow card and the | | | | |
| red card. The yellow card is used to show that a | | | | 1. - Serious foul play (fouling with the intent to injure |
| player has been cautioned. The red card is used to | | | | or harm another player) |
| show that a player has been sent off the pitch and | | | | 2. - Violent conduct (fighting) |
| cannot continue to play or be substituted for. Only a | | | | 3. - Spitting at an opponent or any other person |
| player can be shown a yellow or a red card. The | | | | 4. - Denying to the other team a goal or opportunity |
| following describe the offenses for yellow and red | | | | by using his hands (by knocking ball off goal line or |
| cards. | | | | out of goal) |
| A yellow card is shown to a player for the following | | | | 5. - Denying a goal or opportunity to the other team |
| 7 offenses: | | | | moving towards the player's goal by an offense |
| | | | punishable by a free kick or penalty kick (fouling |
| 1. - Unsporting behavior (hard fouls, trash talking) | | | | player as he attempts to score when there is no |
| 2. - Dissent by words or action (complaining to the | | | | other player near the ball) |
| referee) | | | | 6. - Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and |
| 3. - Persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game | | | | or gestures |
| (continuing to foul when not necessary) | | | | 7. - Receiving a second caution in the same match |
| 4. - Delaying the restart of play (kicking the ball away | | | | Understanding the reasons a referee issues yellow |
| from spot of restart) | | | | and red cards should be much clearer knowing the |
| 5. - Failure to respect the required distance when play | | | | Laws of the Game, specifically Law 12. |
| is restarted (standing too close to the ball) | | | | |