Why do you get red and yellow cards in soccer?

Answer 1

Yellow Card actions:

• Unsporting behaviour of any type, example: a dangerous slide tackle.
• Dissent (Disagreeing with the referee's or linesman's decision).
• Persistent infringement of rules, example: constantly tripping people.
• Entering or leaving the field without permission.
• Delaying the game, perhaps by refusing to stand the proper distance from a free kick, or not throwing in the ball for a long period of time.
• Removing shirt is a common yellow card offence which occurs frequently when a player scores a goal.
• Kicking the ball away when a free kick has been conceded almost always results in a yellow card.

Red Card actions:

• Serious foul, perhaps violent.
• Violent conduct, fighting, (spitting is included).
• Deliberate offense to stop a goal or huge goal opportunity. example: a defenseman using his hands to stop the ball from going into the net. Tripping a man on a breakaway.
• Receiving a second yellow card.
• Offensive, abusive language or actions.

Note: If a person gets a red card due to receiving two yellow cards, first the second yellow card is shown, and then the red card is shown.

Answer 2

For Disciplinary reasons.

Examples: Bad Tackles, Abusive Language, Dissent, Time Wasting, Excessive Celebration, and Fighting.

Yellow Card: Warning, for mild behaviors.

Red Card: Extreme behavior, Fighting.

2 Yellows (in a single game) = Red

Red = Expulsion from game and suspension for next game.

Yellow = Depending on how many yellows you've had before, you can also get suspended for next game. - EXAMPLE: In Spanish Football, 5 yellow cards = Suspension. In The Champions League, 3 yellows = Suspension. Every other odd number yellow card after that (5,7,9,etc.) will also result in suspension.

Source: UEFA Champions League Rules and Regulations Handbook.

Answer 3

There are 7 cautionable offenses and 7 send-off offenses specific in the Laws of the Game. A player must commit one of them.