Accumulation of Technical Area Cautions

The following information has been prepared to provide helpful guidance to Clubs and Participants on The FA Disciplinary Regulations for the 2025/26 Season. This information does not alter or replace the actual FA Rules and Regulations which should be referred to for the full provisions relating to disciplinary matters. In the event of any inconsistency or conflict between the following information and the Rules and Regulations, the Rules and Regulations shall take precedence. 

Summary

Match officials are responsible for upholding the Laws of the Game and reporting any example of unacceptable behaviour to The FA.  Match officials will also issue technical area occupants with yellow and red cards for cautions and dismissals respectively. If an offender cannot be identified, a yellow or red card will be given to the respective team’s senior manager or coach in the technical area.

Technical area occupants associated with Clubs in Categories 1, 3 and 5 - Automatic suspensions will be triggered when an individual reaches the following thresholds:

• Prior to the cut-off point in the table above, a 1 match touchline ban is immediately triggered for reaching 3 technical area cautions in a season.

• After the cut-off point in the table above, reaching 3 technical area cautions triggers a suspended 1 match touchline ban. The suspended 1 match touchline ban will be automatically activated if the technical area occupant receives their fourth technical area caution before the end of the season
• Play-Off Matches (Semi-Finals and Finals) in the EFL Leagues and National League System Leagues from Steps 1 to 4 and the final of the FA Challenge Cup, EFL Cup, EFL Trophy; FA Trophy; FA Women’s Challenge Cup, FA Women’s League Cup and National League Cup shall be exempt from any automatic period of suspension arising from an accumulation of Cautions by Technical Area Occupants. Suspensions which are imposed will commence with immediate effect.