Red Card Suspensions - Non-First Team

Modified on Fri, 19 Sep at 12:44 PM

The following information has been prepared to provide helpful guidance to Clubs and Participants on The FA Disciplinary Regulations for the 2025/26 Season. This information does not alter or replace the actual FA Rules and Regulations which should be referred to for the full provisions relating to disciplinary matters. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the following information and the Rules and Regulations, the Rules and Regulations shall take precedence.

Summary

Suspensions following a Red Card are applied across both league and cup competitions as per the table below – however if the sending-off offence occurs in an EFL Trophy or National League Cup Match, the relevant automatic suspension must be served exclusively in that competition, unless specified by The FA. It should also be noted that Players and Substitutes can be cautioned or dismissed after the end of the match up until the Referee leaves the field of play. Players who are dismissed for a second time in a season will receive an additional match suspension to those listed below. Players who are dismissed for a third time will receive two additional matches and so forth.

SENDING-OFF OFFENCE	AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION	COMPETITIONS TO WHICH AUTOMATIC SUSPENSION APPLIES
Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a handball offence	1 Match	Automatic suspension to be served exclusively in NFTM (excluding EFL Trophy and National League Cup) (EFL Trophy: Unless specified by The Association: (a) If the sending-off offence occurs in an EFL Trophy Match, the relevant automatic suspension must be served exclusively in the EFL Trophy and (b) if the sending-off offence occurs in any other NFTM, an EFL Trophy Match cannot be used to serve any part of the relevant automatic suspension.) (National League Cup: Unless specified by The Association: (a) If the sending-off offence occurs in a National League Cup Match, the relevant automatic suspension must be served exclusively in the National League Cup and (b) if the sending-off offence occurs in any other NFTM, a National League Cup Match cannot be used to serve any part of the relevant automatic suspension.)
Denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity to an opponent whose overall movement is towards the offender’s goal by an offence punishable by a free kick	1 Match
Serious foul play	3 Matches
Spitting at an opponent or any other person	6 Matches
Violent conduct	3 Matches
Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures	2 Matches
Receiving a second caution in the same match	1 Match

The period of suspension will commence immediately (unless the Club have submitted a claim of wrongful dismissal or mistaken identity)

Category 4: Clubs in the Premier League, EFL Leagues, the National League, WSL and WSL2 playing Friendly Matches.

A sending-off offence by a Player will result in that Player receiving an automatic suspension of one Match.
Such automatic suspension can only apply to Matches played by Clubs falling within Category 4