Former Man Utd player shares lesser-known penalty Premier League players get when they receive a yellow card
Ben Foster recently shared an interesting fact about how much Premier League players get fined when they pick up a yellow card in a game. The former Manchester United goalkeeper revealed that players pay the same £10 fine for a yellow card no matter what level they play at.
This rule comes from the Football Association’s handbook and applies from grassroots football right up to the Premier League. That means a player booked in a Sunday league match pays the same fine as a millionaire star in the top flight, regardless of their paycheck.
Foster talked about this on his podcast, Fozcast, while reflecting on his football career. His co-host, Tom Ochoa, commented on something fans often dislike: when a player nudges the ball away a little too slowly after the whistle and ends up getting booked. Tom said, “If you’re going to do it, pick up the ball and throw it far, don’t get booked for just pushing it a few yards.”
Foster agreed, adding, “If you’re going to get a yellow card, make it count. You have to pay that £10 fine for a yellow card, even the pros do.”
Wrexham legend Ben Tozer joined in, saying, “A red card fine is around £50 or £60.”
Foster replied, “Yep, you still have to pay it. So, if you’re going to do it, do it properly. Otherwise, it just looks petulant.”
While clubs may fine their players more on top of this, the FA’s rules mean every yellow card costs £10 no matter the league. The FA Handbook clearly states fines and other penalties for cautions and dismissals.
Yellow cards come with a flat £10 fine. For red cards, fines go from £35 to £55 depending on the offense. For example, deliberately handling the ball to stop a goal or getting a second yellow in the same match costs £35. Using bad language is £45, and serious fouls, violent conduct, and spitting carry the highest fine of £55.
So, whether you’re kicking a ball on Sunday morning or playing at Wembley, the yellow card fine stays the same.