Managers to be subject to yellow and red cards under new disciplinary rules

Managers will receive yellow cards for a variety of transgressions that include inappropriate language, making gestures towards match officials and kicking or throwing water bottles

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Managers from England’s top four divisions, including the Premier League, will be subject to yellow and red cards this season as part of a newly-developed disciplinary scheme that aims to improve touchline behaviour.

Under the new pilot programmed designed by the International Football Association Board, the practice will be applied to the Championship, League One, League Two, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.

Premier League managers will instead be issued with verbal warnings instead of being physically shown cards. However, top-flight manager such as Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho will be subject to the laws when their sides compete in domestic competitions such as the FA Cup.

The National Leagues and Checkatrade Trophy will also enforce the practice.

Managers will receive yellow cards for a variety of transgressions that include: “inappropriate language”; making gestures towards match officials in an attempt to influence their decisions; kicking or throwing water bottles; sarcastic clapping; and gesturing for a card. A red card would be handed out for actions such as violent conduct, spitting and stopping the opponent restarting play.

If a manager accumulates four yellow cards, they would receive a one-match ban, eight a two-match ban, 12 a three-match ban and 16 would result in them going to Wembley to sit in front of a Football Association disciplinary panel. Subsequent fines, if deemed relevant, will be determined by the FA.

“If the behaviour of any one of the members on the bench, usually led by the manager, gets to the level where it’s not appropriate, as like a caution on the pitch, the referee will issue a yellow card to the bench,” said Shaun Harvey, the EFL chief executive.

“If the behaviour continues in a manner that he doesn’t feel appropriate – effectively like a totting up of a number of fouls – then there’s the opportunity for a second yellow card to be issued at which stage the manager leaves the bench area. If there’s a serious incident deemed by the match official, the manager will be shown a red card and go to the stands. It will hopefully improve behaviour in the technical areas.”