When does handball earn a yellow or red card?

Not every handball is a card. Under Law 12.4 (2026/27):

Yellow card when a player:

• handles to stop a promising attack (no card if a penalty is awarded for a non-deliberate handball)
• denies a goal or obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a non-deliberate handball and a penalty is awarded
• handles in an attempt to score, whether or not it works, or in an unsuccessful attempt to prevent a goal

Red card when a player:

• denies a goal or obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a deliberate handball, anywhere on the field (except a goalkeeper in their own penalty area)
• denies one with a non-deliberate handball outside their own penalty area

New for 2026/27: if the referee plays advantage after a defender's handball and a goal is scored, there is no card.