The FA provides match officials with a detailed list of cautionable and dismissible offences, aligned with Law 12.3 of the Laws of the Game. ..Continue Reading
These are split into 15 specific charge codes, which inform both the player and their club about the disciplinary consequences.
Each code outlines the fine, suspension duration, and the number of penalty points attached to the offence. Referees use these codes post-match to officially document why a card was given.
The codes are grouped into two types: yellow card offences begin with a ‘C’ (for “caution”), and red card offences start with an ‘S’ (for “sending-off”).
So, how much did Aston Villa’s Emiliano Martinez have to pay after being booked for time-wasting during their match against Nottingham Forest?
That specific infraction falls under “delaying the restart of play,” classified as a C4 offence.
The punishment? A standard £10 fine—regardless of whether it’s a Premier League player or someone in the tenth tier of English football.
In fact, all yellow card offences carry the same £10 fine, except in cases of sin-bin cautions for dissent (C2) in leagues below tier eight, which don’t result in an additional financial penalty.
Red cards, however, bring heavier costs, including longer suspensions and steeper fines.
For example, an S7 dismissal (second yellow card) or S4/S5 offence (denying a goal-scoring opportunity) leads to a £35 fine and a one-match ban.
The most severe — S3, spitting — results in a £55 fine, an automatic six-match suspension, and seven penalty points.
A straight red for offensive or abusive language (S6) carries a £45 fine and a two-match suspension. More familiar red card infractions like serious foul play or violent conduct fall into other high-penalty categories too.
Players sent off for second bookings—like Eddie Nketiah, Marc Guehi, and Jan Paul van Hecke in the recent Crystal Palace vs Brighton match—were each fined £35, the same amount players in lower-level county leagues receive for the same offence.
It’s worth noting that all red card fines include a £15 administrative fee. So, in short—keeping a clean sheet might save more than just the match.
