A player (Team A) has committed a second cautionable (yellow card, YC) offence in the same match. May the referee allow a quick free kick to be taken by Team B? When should the referee caution (YC) and send off (red card, RC) the offender?

Question

Accepted Answer

The referee may only allow a quick free kick if it creates a very good chance to score and the disciplinary procedure has not been started. The player is given the second YC and the RC the next time play stops unless he/she gets involved with play in which case the referee stops play at once, issues the second YC, sends the player off and restarts with an indirect free kick. However, if the second offence was stopping a promising attack the yellow card is no longer applicable (as the quick free kick has effectively 'restored' the 'lost' promising attack).