When you show a card in a US Soccer affiliated match, your report needs more than a player number. Assignors, leagues and disciplinary committees expect a misconduct code: a short abbreviation that says which offence in Law 12 of the Laws of the Game the card was for.
US Soccer uses six codes for cautions (yellow cards) and seven for send-offs (red cards). This guide lists every one, what it covers and how to write it up.
Caution codes (yellow card)
| Code | Offence | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
UB |
Unsporting behavior | A reckless foul, simulation, a handball that stops a promising attack, removing the shirt to celebrate |
DT |
Dissent by word or action | Protesting a decision with words or gestures, sarcastic applause |
PI |
Persistent offenses | Repeated fouls or infringements, with no set number required |
DR |
Delaying the restart of play | Kicking the ball away, taking a throw-in from the wrong place on purpose |
FRD |
Failure to respect the required distance | Not retreating at a corner kick, free kick or throw-in |
ERL |
Entering, re-entering or deliberately leaving the field | Coming on without the referee’s permission, walking off without permission |
A caution for a team official uses the same logic: note that the person is an official, not a player, and describe their role.
Send-off codes (red card)
| Code | Offence | Typical examples |
|---|---|---|
SFP |
Serious foul play | A tackle or challenge that endangers an opponent’s safety or uses excessive force, while challenging for the ball |
VC |
Violent conduct | Using or attempting excessive force or brutality when not challenging for the ball, against anyone |
S |
Spitting at an opponent or any other person | Spitting at a player, official or spectator |
DGH |
Denying a goal or an obvious goalscoring opportunity by handling | A deliberate handball that stops the ball going into the goal (goalkeepers in their own penalty area excepted) |
DGF |
Denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity by a foul | An offence punishable by a free kick or penalty kick that denies an opponent moving towards goal |
AL |
Offensive, insulting or abusive language or gestures | Abusive words or gestures towards anyone |
2CT |
Receiving a second caution in the same match | A second yellow card, shown with the red |
When denying a goalscoring opportunity is only a caution
If a defender denies an obvious goalscoring opportunity inside their own penalty area, the referee awards a penalty kick, and the offence was an attempt to play the ball or a challenge for it, the player is cautioned instead of sent off. Holding, pulling, pushing, no possibility to play the ball, and serious foul play are still send-offs.
How to write up a card
A good misconduct report is short and factual. For each card, record:
- The minute, including stoppage time (for example 45+2’).
- The team and the player’s number, or the official’s role.
- The code, exactly as your association lists it.
- What you saw, in one or two plain sentences. Describe the action, not your opinion of the player.
For a second caution, record both yellow cards with their codes and minutes, then the 2CT send-off.
Codes and wording change between Law updates and associations. Always check your league’s current reporting requirements before you submit a report.
Recording codes on the field
Writing codes in a notebook while play restarts is where mistakes creep in. Halfline lets you pick the code on your Apple Watch as you show the card: choose the player or official, tap the card, tap the code. The minute is filled in for you, and the match report on your iPhone lists every card with its code, ready to share.