How long is the ban for a red card?
Rule- England
- England Football
- FA Handbook 2026-27
- Adult football
- Open age (16+)
- Sunday league
- Grassroots
- 2026/27
- Players
Automatic suspensions for a sending-off in grassroots Sunday football (FA Handbook 2026-27, Table 8):
| Sending-off offence | Ban | Fine |
|---|---|---|
| Second caution in the same match | 1 match | £20 |
| Denying a goal or obvious goal-scoring opportunity by handball | 1 match | £20 |
| Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by a foul | 1 match | £20 |
| Offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures | 2 matches | £30 |
| Serious foul play | 3 matches | £40 |
| Violent conduct | 3 matches | £40 |
| Spitting at an opponent or any other person | 6 matches | £40 |
- The ban applies to Sunday football (the category where you were sent off), plus the FA Cup and FA Vase.
- Repeat red cards: for each earlier sending-off in the same season, you get 1 extra match on top of the standard ban.
- A £15 processing fee also applies to each sending-off.
- In truly exceptional cases of serious foul play, violent conduct or spitting, the County FA can ask a Disciplinary Commission for a longer ban.
Added 21 Oct 2026