The system of issuing yellow/red cards by the referee was trialled at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. After a period of debate they were gradually introduced into European club games. It was however six years before they appeared in the English game, and therefore the 1976-77 season was the first time they were used in the English Leagues.

Their introduction proved to be a somewhat temporary measure as within five years, the end of the 1979-80 season, their use was halted. It was deemed that referees were perhaps giving them out too readily and that their use may be contributive to the general violence within football stadiums at the time which was, quite naturally, of great concern to the English Football Association and the Football League representative bodies. This ban however was itself temporary as Europe, and the wider footballing world, had continued their use and it was thought that England was now out of step. So after a five year absence the season 1987-88 saw their reintroduction, and love them or hate them they are now an established aspect of the modern game.

Given the above it is very difficult to ascertain, with any degree of accuracy, when a player was booked prior to 1976-77 season, and between the seasons 1981-82 to 1987-88. Dismissals are pretty plain, but, as I say, bookings are much more difficult. The table illustrates the card coding system that is therefore used throughout this site.

Note

When a player is dismissed for two cautionable offences, i.e. he has been given a second yellow card then a red card, both the yellow cards are counted in that player's total.

When perusing any player record the coding (in the table) will help you readily identify such instances).