Temporary dismissals (sin bins)

Who and how

Approval and a published competition protocol are required. Only players, including goalkeepers, receive sin bins; substitute and substituted-player cautions do not qualify. The referee shows yellow and points with both arms towards the designated area.

• The same duration applies to each qualifying offence: recommended length is 10–15% of match length, for example ten minutes in a 90-minute match.
• Time begins at the restart after departure and includes extra time to account for stoppages that would generate added time.
• Players remain with technical staff or in the technical area, except permitted warm-ups.

Returning and further offences

After the period, return is through the touchline at the next stoppage with referee permission. Substitution is possible only once the period ends and within remaining substitution limits.

• Unserved time carries across half-time and into extra time.
• An unfinished sin bin does not prevent participation in a shoot-out; sin bins are not used during the shoot-out.
• Any further cautionable or sending-off offence while serving the period ends that player’s participation, with no replacement.

System A: every caution

All cautions cause a sin bin. A second caution brings a second period and then permanent exclusion of that player. After that second period, a replacement is allowed if substitution limits and opportunities permit.

System B: selected cautions

Only offences identified by the competition cause sin bins. Other cautions remain ordinary yellow cards. Any two cautions still produce a red card, whether neither, one or both involved a sin bin.

• Competition authorities decide reporting and further disciplinary consequences.