What do the yellow card, two minutes and red card mean in handball?
B · Beginner · Fouls and punishments · 8 of 8Three levels. A yellow card is a warning. A two-minute suspension sends the player off and leaves the team one short for two minutes of playing time. A red card is a disqualification for the rest of the match, and the team also plays one short for two minutes. A third suspension for the same player is a red card.
How it works
- Warning: shown with a yellow card, for fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct that are punished progressively.
- How many: a player should not be given more than one warning, and a team's players not more than three in total. After that it is at least two minutes.
- Suspension: "always for a playing time of 2 minutes". The player may not play and "the team is not allowed to replace him on the court".
- The signal: one arm raised with two fingers extended, after a time-out.
- When it starts: when play restarts with the whistle. It carries over into the second half and into overtime.
- Three and out: "the third suspension for the same player also always leads to a disqualification".
- Disqualification: shown with a red card, "always for the entire remainder of the playing time".
- And two minutes: a disqualification during playing time always carries a two-minute suspension for the team. The team may bring its numbers back up afterwards.
- Away from the team: the disqualified person must leave the court and the substitution area and have no contact with the team.
- The blue card: shown after the red to say that a written report will follow, so that the authorities can decide on further measures.
- Officials: one warning and one two-minute suspension in total for a team's officials, then disqualification.
- Four minutes: some double offences before the restart leave the team short for four minutes.
The glossary has the yellow card, the two-minute suspension, the red card, the blue card, the warning, the disqualification and the progressive punishment entry.
Tricky cases
A team has already had three yellow cards. A fourth player commits a foul that would bring a warning. What happens?
A two-minute suspension. Once the team has its three warnings, the punishment must be at least two minutes.
A player is disqualified. Does the team play one short for the rest of the match?
No. It plays one short for two minutes, and may then bring on another player. It has one fewer player available.
A player is suspended with 30 seconds left in the first half. Is the rest wiped out at half-time?
No. The remaining 90 seconds are served at the start of the second half.
A team scores while the other side has a player suspended. Does the suspended player come back?
No. Nothing in the rule ends a suspension early. It is always for two minutes of playing time.
Why the rule exists
The ladder lets referees answer a hard game without ending anyone's match early: a warning first, then time off the court, then removal. The two minutes punish the team as well as the player, which is what gives team-mates a reason to restrain each other. The cap on warnings stops yellow cards being handed out without effect.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Players | One warning each, three for the team | IHF 16:1, comment |
| Team officials | One warning and one suspension in total | IHF 16:1; IHF 16:3, comment |
| An official is suspended | The official stays on the bench, and a player leaves the court for two minutes | IHF 16:3, comment |
| 7-metre throwing | A player with an unexpired suspension may not take part | IHF 16:5 |
From the rule book
International Handball Federation, Rules of the Game: Indoor Handball (1 July 2025), Rule 16. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: IX. Rules of the Game, a) Indoor Handball (PDF).