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Arguably of all the offences for which a red card is issued the second cautionable offence is the one that should present the least challenge for referees. We are all aware of the cautionable offences listed in Law 12 and are regularly called upon to make judgements throughout the game as to what is and is not a cautionable offence. For example, in the FA Premier League last season there was an average of about 3.5 yellow cards in each game compared to an average of 0.2 red cards per game. The mathematics alone suggests that we are 18 times more likely to be faced with identifying a cautionable offence than one requiring a dismissal. Applying this experience we should be able to recognise the offence when committed and take the appropriate action.

So what are the challenges we face in dismissing a player for a second cautionable offence?

The main challenge is ensuring consistency and appropriateness of punishment throughout the game. Players have a right to expect that an offence that is punished with a caution early in the game is punished in the same way later in the game. This is more important when the offence is committed by the same player and necessitates their dismissal.

This makes it particularly important that in issuing those first cautions the referee establishes an appropriate benchmark. The majority of cautions are issued for Unsporting Behaviour which require us to differentiate between those tackle which are careless, warranting only a free-kick, and those that are reckless requiring further sanction. If we set the benchmark too low we risk too many cautions and the possibility of dismissing a player for what is perceived as a “cheap”, innocuous or even inappropriate offence. Ideally, we want the players to recognise that the second caution is consistent with our previous actions and that the dismissal is just.

The second challenge is one of awareness. It is important that we recognise that the player committing the offence has already received a caution. This awareness is fundamental as it allows the referee to both manage the situation more efficiently and ensure that the ultimate punishment is appropriate to the offence committed.

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