AAP Soccer

FIFA to soften yellow card suspension rule at World Cup

Apr 28, 2026

A player is shown a yellow card. — FIFA is set to tinker with its yellow card suspension rule at the coming World Cup. -AP

FIFA is set to amend its yellow card suspension rules for the World Cup by introducing a second amnesty stage, according to sources cited by Deutsche Presse Agentur (DPA).

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The BBC also reported that the ruling body plans to scrap accumulated yellow cards after the group stage in addition to after the quarter-finals.

A FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver on Tuesday (Wednesday AEDT) was set to discuss the issue further.

In general, players are suspended for one match after picking up a second booking at a World Cup tournament.

However, FIFA introduced an amnesty after the quarter-finals to avoid cases like that of Germany captain Michael Ballack, who missed the 2002 final because he received a second booking in the semi-finals.

The second amnesty stage after the group stage is now to be introduced because the tournament has been expanded from 32 to 48 teams which requires an additional knock-out round, the round of 32.

This also reduces the likelihood of players being suspended for the semi-finals.

The World Cup takes place from June 11 in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

FIFA is holding meetings in Vancouver this week, including its annual congress on Thursday.