What do yellow and red cards mean in sepak takraw?
A · Advanced · Stoppages and discipline · 4 of 5A yellow card is a caution, for offences such as dissent, delay or unsporting conduct. A red card sends the player off, for dangerous or violent play, spitting or abusive language. It brings a suspension until a disciplinary committee decides. Yellow cards add up across a tournament: a second, in a different match, brings a one-match suspension.
How it works
- Yellow card offences: unsporting conduct, dissent by word or action, repeated infringement, delaying the start of play, and entering or leaving the court without permission.
- Red card offences: dangerous play, violent conduct, spitting, abusive language or gesture and a second yellow card in the same match.
- First yellow: a normal caution.
- Second yellow, in a different match of the same tournament: a one-match suspension.
- Third yellow, after that suspension: a two-match suspension and a fine of 100 US dollars, paid by the player's club, association or federation.
- Fourth yellow: immediate suspension until the disciplinary committee decides.
- Red card: sent off, and suspended from sanctioned tournaments until the disciplinary committee decides.
- On or off the court: cards may be shown for conduct towards anyone during the match.
- Speaking to the referee: only the captain may approach the referee to ask for an explanation.
- Team officials: one who misbehaves is escorted out of the arena and suspended from the role until the committee decides.
The glossary has the yellow card, the red card, the misconduct of team officials, the regu captain, the match officials and the substitution.
Tricky cases
A player gets a second yellow card in the same match. Is the player sent off?
It depends on which law is read. The list of sending-off offences includes a second yellow card in the same match. A later clause gives two yellow cards in one match a two-match suspension and a fine, and speaks of a red card for a third offence in another match. The two do not sit together easily, and this page does not settle it.
Does a yellow card cost a point?
No. The law gives a caution, and suspensions as the cards add up. It names no point penalty.
Can any player ask the referee about a decision?
No. Only the captain of the regu may approach the referee to ask for an explanation.
A player is sent off. Does the regu play on with two?
No. The regu may substitute if it has a change left in that set. If it has none, the game ends and the regu is treated as having lost.
Why the rule exists
Players kick at head height within reach of each other, so dangerous play has to carry the heaviest penalty. Counting yellow cards across a tournament stops a player from offending a little in every match without consequence.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| First yellow card | Caution | ISTAF Law 16.3.1 |
| Second, in another match | One-match suspension | ISTAF Law 16.3.2 |
| Third | Two-match suspension and a fine | ISTAF Law 16.3.3 |
| Two in one match | Sending-off under one clause; suspension and fine under another | ISTAF Law 16.2.5; 16.3.5 |
| Red card | Sent off and suspended until the committee decides | ISTAF Law 16.4 |
| Team officials | Escorted out and suspended from the role | ISTAF Law 17.2 |
From the rule book
International Sepaktakraw Federation, Law of the Game 2024 (regu event, 1 January 2024), Laws 7.9, 15, 16 and 17. Checked 14 October 2026. Official document: the federation's Law of the Game (regu).