Sulom changes player suspension rules

Super League of Malawi (Sulom) has changed TNM Super League rules and regulations on suspension of players.

Following the changes, a player who accumulates three yellow cards will now be suspended for a match.

Previously, it only took two yellow cards for a player to be suspended.

Sulom general secretary Williams Banda said they decided to change the rules and regulations following concerns from clubs.

“Clubs complained that two yellow cards was a bit harsh, considering that other leagues have three yellow cards as a benchmark. Teams are advised that the suspension and caution has changed with immediate effect. Players who accumulate three consecutive yellow cards shall now be missing one game,” he said.

However, players that get two yellow cards in one game or a straight red, will receive matching orders and will miss one match with a fine.

Fifa laws of the game do not specify the number of games a suspended player can miss. It only provides for the offences that warrant yellow cards or sending off.

Law number 12 states that a player may be cautioned for “dissent by word or action, persistent infringement on the Laws of the Game, delaying the restart of play [includes deliberate time-wasting tactics], failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, throw-in or free kick, entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission or deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission.”

As a result, various competitions have different punishments for cautioned players.

The English Premier League has five yellows cards as cut-off point for suspension.

Sendings-off as the result of a second yellow card or denying a goal-scoring opportunity result in a one-match ban.

If a player is sent off for using offensive, insulting or abusive language the ban is two matches, while violent conduct or serious foul play is a three-match ban. And a player sent off for spitting will miss six matches.