Euro 2024 yellow and red card rules: How many games will players miss?
The red card has already been brandished at Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)
Euro 2024 will see some of the finest players across the continent taking centre stage in Germany this summer.
But yellow card accumulation or a straight red card will result in players having to agonisingly serve a suspension during the tournament – potentially wrecking havoc with manager’s carefully-laid plans.
And with the yellow card rules in particular seemingly very harsh, players will need to be on their best behaviour to avoid entering the referee’s notebook.
Let’s take a look at the yellow and red card rules at Euro 2024 and how many games players will be forced to miss through suspension.
How many games are players banned for with a yellow card at Euro 2024?
Players will be banned for one game if they pick up two yellow cards before the end of the quarter-final stage.
A player will also be banned for one further match if they collect four yellow cards before the quarter-finals.
Yellow cards could prove costly at Euro 2024 (Picture: Getty)
This means that just two yellow cards across the group stage, round of 16 and quarter-final will result in a player being suspended for the semi-finals.
Yellow card tallies will be wiped after the end of the quarter-finals, such that no player will be forced to miss the final through yellow card accumulation.
For Euro 2024, UEFA has announced that any player surrounding the referee will be given a yellow card, with only the captain able to discuss decisions with the match officials.
Teams who have their goalkeeper as captain will be able to nominate an outfield player to approach the referee instead.
Phil Foden was the only England player who missed a game through suspension at Euro 2020, with bookings against Croatia and Scotland seeing him forced to sit out the win over Czech Republic in the final game of the group stage.
How many games are players banned for with a red card at Euro 2024?
A red card at any stage of Euro 2024 will result in an automatic one-match ban.
However, in the event of serious offences, the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body is permitted to increase the length of the suspension as it sees fit.
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Should a player be sent off in the final, the ban will be carried over to the team’s next competitive match.
Ryan Porteous was given the first red card of Euro 2024 after a reckless tackle during Scotland’s 5-1 defeat to Germany on the opening night, meaning he will be missing from the second group game against Switzerland on Wednesday.
Can yellow cards and red cards be appealed at Euro 2024?
Yellow cards and red cards cannot be appealed by teams at Euro 2024.
However, teams are allowed to appeal against decisions made by the UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body, should they decide to impose a ban increase on a player.