A yellow card bet is about how many bookings a match produces. The usual form is over or under a line such as 3.5 cards. Over 3.5 wins when there are four yellow cards or more, and under 3.5 wins when there are three or fewer. Some bets count red cards as well, and some count by “booking points”.
The table below shows today’s card tips from an outside prediction provider, as published. Under it we look at how many cards each league shows, how much referees matter, and what a red card does to a match, from 33,323 league games.
Other tips for today
Ru2
SKA-Khabarovsk
Spartak Kostroma
36

AuN
Wollongong FC
Sydney United
36

AuN
Charlestown City
Maitland FC
32

AuA
Gungahlin Juventus
Canberra White Eagles
53

AuC
Brisbane Roar
Sydney FC
28

Cz3
Hradec Kralove B
Pardubice B
44

Cz3
FK Jablonec B
Horní Ředice
30

Cz3
Karvina II
CSK Uherský Brod
45

Cz3
Sigma Olomouc B
Slovacko B
28

Cz3
1. FC Brno B
Frydek-Mistek
54

Cz4
Meteor Praha VIII
Slavoj Vysehrad
35

Cz4
FC Brumov
Prostějov II
27

At2
SKU Amstetten
Admira
45

Sk2
MSK Zilina B
FK Pohronie
57

Sk2
Slovan Bratislava Youth
STK Samorin
48

Cz3
FK Zlin B
Polanka nad Odrou
26

Jp1
Tokyo Verdy
Kawasaki Frontale
18

Jp2
Iwaki FC
FC Imabari
21

Ua2
Polissya II
Metalist Kharkov
39

Jp3
Fukushima United
Kamatamare Sanuki
29

De6
Bayern U19
Unterhaching U19
20

De6
Babelsberg U19
Energie Cottbus U19
4

De6
Schalke 04 U19
Duisburg U19
10

De6
Dusseldorf U19
RW Essen U19
12

De6
Borussia M’gladbach U19
Saarbrucken U19
4

DeW
Meppen W
Hoffenheim II W
26

SiW
Cerklje W
ŽNK Ljubljana W
8

Cn3
Dalian Kewei
Rizhao Yuqi
2

Jp3
MIO Biwako Kusatsu
FC Gifu
23

In3
NA Suruchi Sangha
Kalighat Club
15

In3
Police
Rainbow
11

AuC
South Melbourne
Fremantle City
33

Jp1
V-Varen Nagasaki
Kyoto Sanga
24

Ua1
Zorya Lugansk
Kryvbas
44

Pt2
SC Farense
União Torreense
61

Jp2
Montedio Yamagata
Tochigi Uva
18

Cn2
Yanbian Fude
Shenzhen Juniors
55

Ru4
Akron II
Pobeda Nizhny Novgorod
44

Jp3
Ehime FC
Nara Club
16

Jp3
Tochigi SC
Zweigen Kanazawa
34

Ua3
Oleksandria II
Metalurh Zaporizhzhia
38

Pt3
AD Marco 09
Pacos de Ferreira
33

De6
St. Pauli U19
Hamburger SV U19
4

De6
Bayer Leverkusen U19
Bochum U19
9

Pl4
Luzino
Bałtyk Koszalin
26

Pl4
Miedź Legnica II
Barycz Sułów
56

PlW
Rekord Bielsko-Biala W
Legia Ladies W
29

Nl1
Sparta Rotterdam
Feyenoord
48

Nl2
Helmond Sport
De Graafschap
27

No3
Rana
Skeid Fotball
24

Ua3
Rebel
Karbon
35

Dk2
Hvidovre IF
Esbjerg fB
24

Cn1
Henan Jianye
Qingdao West Coast
52

Ua2
Probiy Horodenka
Chernihiv
49

Cn2
Wuxi Wugou
Shanghai Jiading
30

By2
Niva Dolbizno
Energetik-BGU
37

Se3
Umea FC
AFC Eskilstuna
25

Se3
Vasalunds IF
Stockholm Internazionale
29

No3
Eik-Tonsberg
SK Traeff
47

Dk3
Næstved BK
Hellerup IK
40

Pl3
Legia Warszawa II
Swit Skolwin
48

Ru4
KDV
Krylia-2 Sovetov
16

Ru4
Dynamo Barnaul
FK Ural-2
33

De6
Union Berlin U19
Carl Zeiss Jena U19
11

De6
BAK 07 U19
Hansa Rostock U19
9

SzW
Thun W
Etoile Carouge W
7

NoW2
Klepp W
Fyllingsdalen W
10

NoW2
Start W
Frigg W
11

Se4
Herrestads AIF
Tord
27

Se4
IK Franke
Enskede IK
15

Se4
IFK Umeå
Fränsta
11

Se4
Eker Örebro
FC Nacka Iliria
21

Se4
BK Astrio
Torslanda IK
23

Se4
Jonsered
Landvetter IS
29

Ru1
Dynamo Moscow
FC Dynamo Makhachkala
34

De2
Energie Cottbus
Hannover 96
52

De2
Nürnberg
Dynamo Dresden
34

De2
St Pauli
Greuther Fürth
44

Be1
Gent
KV Mechelen
31

De3
Hoffenheim II
Hansa Rostock
52

Cn2
Guangdong GZ-Power
Guangxi Hengchen
31

De6
Heidenheim U19
Karlsruher U19
3

RuW
Lokomotiv Moscow W
CSKA Moscow W
21

Cn1
Chongqing Tongliang
Shanghai SIPG
53

Se1
Malmö
Degerfors IF
39

Se1
Hammarby IF
Häcken
34

FA
Erith & Belvedere
Billingshurst
5

Ch1
Lugano
Zürich
51

Fi1
KuPS Kuopio
TPS Turku
34

Dk2
AaB Aalborg
Kolding IF
33

Dk2
Vejle BK
Hillerod
31

Cn1
Shandong Luneng
Tianjin Teda
41

Fi2
Klubi 04
FC KTP
35

By2
FK Lida
FK Slutsk
35

Ru4
NoSta Novotroitsk
Chelyabinsk II
27

De4
Phönix Lübeck
SSV Jeddeloh
11

De4
Todesfelde
Werder Bremen II
3

De4
FC St. Pauli II
Bremer SV
6

Ua3
Nyva Ternopil II
Dnister Zalishchyky
36

De4
VfR Aalen
SC Freiburg II
0

De4
Hallescher FC
Chemnitzer FC
10

De4
Erzgebirge Aue
BFC Preussen
12

De4
BFC Dynamo
FSV Zwickau
12

De4
Carl Zeiss Jena
RW Erfurt
13

De5
Budissa Bautzen
Eilenburg
7

De5
Meuselwitz
Empor Glauchau
0

De6
Wehen U19
Darmstadt 98 U19
1

DeW
Viktoria Berlin W
Bochum W
18

DeW
Eintracht Frankfurt II W
Ingolstadt W
16

DeW
SC Sand W
Andernach W
19

DeW
Turbine Potsdam W
Borussia M’gladbach W
21

SeW
Pitea W
Hacken W
15

NoW2
Odd W
Grei W
19

Se4
Motala AIF
Husqvarna FF
20

Se4
Dalstorps IF
IK Kongahälla
22

No1
Lillestrom SK
Rosenborg BK
40

Nl1
PEC Zwolle
Ajax
32

Nl1
Groningen
Utrecht
29

Sc1
Kilmarnock
Celtic
41

Ua1
Epitsentr Dunayivtsi
Shakhtar Donetsk
29

Pl2
LKS Lodz
Chrobry Glogow
36

Cz2
Banik Ostrava B
Taborsko
44

No3
Brattvag IL
Lysekloster
42

Pl3
Avia Świdnik
Sandecja
43

Mw1
Big Bullets (MAL)
Chitipa United
32

Mw1
Red Lions
Kamuzu Barracks
33

Mw1
Masters Security
CIVO United
13

Mw1
Mitundu Baptist
Karonga United
21

Ua3
Vilkhivtsi
Bratslav Vinnytsia
11

De6
Mainz U19
Koln U19
15

Pl1
Slask Wroclaw
Cracovia
44

FA
Little Common
Haywards Heath Town
2
FA
Worsbrough Bridge
Trafford FC
2
Cz1
Slavia Praha
FK Pardubice
38

Se2
Varbergs BoIS
Sandvikens IF
31

Pt2
FC Vizela
Uniao Leiria
58

Dk2
FC Fredericia
Vendsyssel FF
37

Am1
Pyunik
Van Yerevan
30

Ge1
Meshakhte Tkibuli
Samgurali Tsqaltubo
49

Kz1
Tobol Kostanay
Kaisar Kyzylorda
58

Kz1
Astana
FK Okzhetpes
41

Lv1
FK Jelgava
Auda
55

Lv1
Supernova Riga
FK Liepaja
48

Ua2
Yarud Mariupol
SC Poltava
39

Py2
Sportivo Carapeguá
Fernando de la Mora
53

Py2
Benjamín Aceval
3 de Noviembre
37

Ru4
FK Orenburg-2
Zenit-Izhevsk
52

Ru4
Rubin-2 Kazan
Khimik Dzerzhinsk
37

De4
Schöningen
Eintracht Norderstedt
1

ZaC
AmaZulu FC
Sekhukhune Utd
38

BrC
Linense SP
Grêmio Prudente
45

BrC
Noroeste SP
XV de Piracicaba SP
51

Fi4
KPV Kokkola
VJS
42

NoW2
Kolbotn W
Viking FK W
20

Se4
IFK Trelleborg
Växjö Norra IF
26

Se4
Lindö FF
Fittja IF
23

Hu1
Paksi
Budapest Honved
47

No3
Tromsdalen UIL
Lorenskog IF
37

Wl2
Baglan Dragons
Swansea Univ.
9

Ro2
Chindia Targoviste
CS Metaloglobus
51

Ru4
Dynamo Makhachkala
Rubin Yalta
22

Am2
Araks Ararat
Ararat-2
1

By1
FC Baranovichi
BATE Borisov
49

Ru1
Zenit
Rodina Moscow
51

Br1
Cruzeiro
Mirassol SP
63

Sc1
Hearts
Dundee United
54

Sc1
Motherwell
Falkirk FC
51

Be1
Zulte Waregem
Racing Genk
38

Be1
Sporting Charleroi
OH Leuven
43

Dk1
Randers FC
Lyngby BK
30

Ie1
Waterford United
Bohemians FC
52

FA
Hallam
Irlam
4
FA
Beverley Town
Northwich
19
Fi1
Inter Turku
FC Lahti
42

Ru2
KAMAZ Naberezhnye Chelny
Volga Ulyanovsk
61

Kz1
Yelimay Semey
Irtysh Pavlodar
62

Lt1
FA Siauliai
Dziugas FC
53

Uy1
Danubio FC
CA Cerro
56

Br2
Athletic Club MG
Criciúma
63

By2
FK Osipovichi
Dinamo Minsk II
33

Se3
Hammarby TTF
FBK Karlstad
27

Se4
Jönköpings Södra
BK Olympic Malmö
38

Lu1
Résidence Walferdange
FC Niedercorn
68

Lu1
F91 Dudelange
UNA Strassen
32

Lu1
Victoria Rosport
US Mondorf
39

Lu1
FC Differdange 03
US Rumelange
65

Lu1
Etzella Ettelbruck
RFCU Luxemburg
68

Lu1
UN Käerjéng
US Hostert
31

Fo1
Vikingur Gota
B68 Toftir
51

Lv2
Beitar / Riga Mariners
Tukums II
30

BrC
Oeste FC
Paulista SP
70

BrC
EC São Bernardo
Sao Caetano SP
42

BrW
Grêmio W
Cruzeiro W
62

Se4
Helges
Bollstanas
18

Se4
Nyköpings BIS
IK Sleipner
28

Se1
IFK Göteborg
Kalmar FF
38

Se1
Halmstads BK
GAIS
35

Ch1
FC Sion
FC Vaduz
52

Ch1
St Gallen
FC Luzern
55

Ch1
FC Basel
FC Thun
69

Pt2
AVS
Sporting Lisboa B
58

Pt2
CD Feirense
FC Felgueiras
70

De3
Saarbrücken
Essen
52

Cz4
Tatran Ždírec
Sokol Tasovice
36

Cz4
Velka Bites
TJ Tatran Bohunice
28

Cz4
Pelhřimov
Havlickuv Brod
13

Cz4
TJ Sokol Lanzhot
Tatran Všechovice
23

Cz4
FK Kozlovice
Bzenec
39

Cz4
ŠSK Bílovec
Opava B
30

Cz4
Kravare
Valasske Mezirici
17

Cz4
Pusta Polom
Frydlant
22

NIW
Derry City W
Lisburn Rangers W
12

Nl1
Heerenveen
Twente
35

Nl2
MVV Maastricht
Jong Utrecht
37

No1
HamKam
Aalesund FK
29

Sc1
Rangers
Hibernian
51

At1
SV Ried
Rapid Wien
31

At1
Wolfsberger AC
RB Salzburg
41

Bg2
Svoge
Pirin Blagoevgrad
43

Bg2
Rilski Sportist
Spartak Pleven
21

Bg2
Vihren Sandanski
Chernomorets 1919
42

Ua1
Veres Rivne
Dynamo Kyiv
35

Cz1
FK Jablonec
Slovacko
48

Cz1
Hradec Kralove
Banik
45

Fi1
Ilves
IFK Mariehamn
47

Sk1
MSK Zilina
MFK Skalica
46

Mk1
Vardar Skopje
Shkendija 79
77

Mk1
FK Skopje
FC Struga
37

Am1
Shirak FC
Noah
31

Lv1
Riga FC
FK Ogre
41

EFL
Mansfield
Sheffield United
42

No2
Strommen IF
Ranheim Fotball
34

No2
Sandnes Ulf
IL Hodd
31

No2
Asane Fotball
Kongsvinger
34

No2
Stromsgodset IF
Egersunds IK
28

No2
Haugesund
Raufoss IL
26

No2
Sogndal
Bryne FK
34

Se3
FC Arlanda
Piteå IF
34

Pl3
Chojniczanka
Znicz Pruszkow
48

Fi3
JS Hercules
SJK Akatemia II
37

Cz3
Sokol Brozany
FK Caslav
27

Cz3
SK Zápy
Neratovice-Byskovice
34

Cz3
FK Varnsdorf
SK Benátky n. Jiz.
31

Cz3
Ceske Budejovice
Admira Praha
52

AtL
ASKÖ Köttmannsdorf
Landskron
17

Cz4
SK Strakonice
Senco Doubravka
15

Cz4
TJ Dvůr Králové
Slavia Hradec Králové
34

Cz4
TJ Svitavy
OEZ Letohrad
26

Pl4
ŁKS Łódź II
Warta Sieradz
29

Pl4
KKS Kalisz
Unia Swarzedz
26

Pl4
Zaglebie Sosnowiec
Goczałkowice Zdrój
48

Pl2
Nieciecza KS
Warta Poznan
39

Pl1
Lech Poznan
Piast Gliwice
48

Hu1
Debrecen VSC
Nyiregyhaza
67

Ro1
Petrolul Ploiesti
Otelul Galati
48

Si1
NK Aluminij
Nafta Lendava
41

Ru2
Rotor Volgograd
FK Chelyabinsk
45

Hu2
Soroksar
Diosgyori VTK
51

Hu2
Szentlorinc SE
Nagykanizsa FC
40

Hu2
Csakvari TK
Kozarmisleny SE
75

Rs2
Graficar Belgrade
FK Smederevo
51

Si2
ND Ilirija
ND Dravinja
42

Pl3
Śląsk Wrocław II
Gornik Leczna
34

AtL
Mils
Völs
3

Fi4
FC Jazz
OLS Oulu
41

SiW
O. Ljubljana W
Radomlje W
14

PlW
Ślęza Wrocław W
Czarni Sosnowiec W
26

Lt1
FK Banga
FK Suduva
53

By1
FC Gomel
FK Minsk
10

Dk1
AC Horsens
Brøndby
51

Bg1
Cherno More Varna
Ludogorets
52

Ie1
Shelbourne FC
St Patricks Dublin
59

Ee1
Levadia Tallinn
Nõmme United
43

Fi1
AC Oulu
HJK Helsinki
40

Ru2
FK Veles Moscow
FK Leningradets
11

Ge1
FC Spaeri
Dinamo Tbilisi
49

Tr2
76 Igdır Belediye Spor
Fatih Karagümrük
54

Tr2
Sariyer SK
Muğlaspor
55

Is2
Volsungur
HK Kopavogur
53

Se3
Assyriska FF
Sollentuna FK
35

Lu1
Swift Hesperange
FC Wiltz
36

Pe2
Ayacucho FC
CNI Iquitos
55

ZaC
Kaizer Chiefs
Golden Arrows
45

Pt3
AD Fafe
SC Vianense
30

Pl4
Star Starachowice
KSZO Ostrowiec
28

Be1
Anderlecht
RAAL La Louvière
45

Hr1
Slaven Belupo
NK Varaždin
45

Ba1
Borac
Velez Mostar
42

Cl1
Deportes Concepción
Univ de Concepcion
66

Cl2
Deportes Copiapó
San Luis Quillota
52

Pt3
Leça FC
São João de Ver
32

Ru1
Spartak Moscow
FK Krasnodar
53

Pt1
Porto
FC Alverca
53

At1
Austria Wien
LASK Linz
37

Bg2
Lokomotiv Gorna O.
Fratria
44

Ar2
CA Atlanta
Temperley
61

Lu1
Jeunesse Esch
FC Atert Bissen
68

Cr2
Santa Cruz FC
AD Cofutpa
48

Cr2
AD Carmelita
Santa Ana
55

Ve2
Bolívar SC (VEN)
Dinamo Puerto
63

IlC
Maccabi Petah Tikva
Hapoel Ramat Gan
29

IlC
Hapoel Katamon
Hapoel Petah Tikva
39

Gt2
Gomerano
Aguacatán
35

Gt2
Puerto de Iztapa
Chichicasteco
19

Gt2
Sayaxché
Fraijanes
41

Gt2
Amatitlan
Quiché
53

SiW
Krim W
Aluminij W
8

ACW
Cameroon W
Nigeria W
39

No1
Kristiansund BK
Molde
37

Be1
Royal Antwerp
Waasland-Beveren
40

Ru1
Rubin Kazan
FK Orenburg
53

Ar2
Los Andes
Ferro Carril Oeste
61

De3
Alemannia Aachen
Verl
53

Pl3
GKS Tychy
Olimpia Grudziadz
44

Ve2
Mineros Guyana
Monagas SC B
69

ItC
US Arezzo
Union Brescia
42

Ar1
San Lorenzo
CA Huracán
60

Rs1
Macva Sabac
IMT Novi Beograd
60

Rs1
Vojvodina
Radnik Surdulica
54

Cz1
SK Lisen
Sigma Olomouc
29

Is1
Stjarnan FC
Keflavik IF
45

Is1
KA Akureyri
FH Hafnarfjordur
54

Is1
Vikingur Reykjavik
IBV Vestmannaeyjar
49

Is1
IA Akranes
Thor Akureyri
40

Me1
FK Otrant
OFK Petrovac
41

Me1
FK Jezero
Mladost Donja Gorica
41

Me1
Bokelj Kotor
Sutjeska Niksic
41

Ar2
Deportivo Morón
CA Acassuso
83

Ar2
Colegiales
Patronato Paraná
54

Uy1
Defensor Sporting
Montevideo Wanderers
53

Pe1
Deportivo Garcilaso
UCV Moquegua
59

Rs2
Backa Topola
Javor Ivanjica
55

Ar3
Deportivo Laferrere
Arsenal Sarandi
54

Ar3
Sportivo Dock Sud
San Martín Burzaco
65

Ar4
Juventud Unida SM
Puerto Nuevo
80

Ar4
CA Lugano
Victoriano Arenas
72

Ar4
Club Luján
Central Córdoba
66

Ar4
CA Atlas
Cañuelas FC
75

Gt2
Coatepecano IB
Juventud Copalera
29

BrG
Guarani RS
Veranópolis RS
33

BrG
Passo Fundo RS
Brasil de Pelotas
19

BrG
EC Pelotas RS
Bage
53

BrG
Gramadense
União Frederiquense RS
34

BrG
APAFUT
Gaúcho RS
31

BrW
Vitória BA W
Internacional RS W
45

BrW
Juventude W
Mixto W
47

MxW
Puebla W
Guadalajara W
36

Pl1
Jagiellonia
Widzew Lodz
52

Bg1
Septemvri Sofia
CSKA-Sofia
57

Si1
Maribor
FC Koper
53

Si1
NK Bravo
Grosuplje
42

Pe2
Cesar Vallejo
Molinos El Pirata
59

Ro1
CS Univ Craiova
Arges Pitesti
61

Ar2
Colon Santa Fe
San Telmo
42

Tr2
Van BB
Kayserispor
44

Tr2
Bodrumspor SK
Bursaspor
40

BrG
Lajeadense RS
Esportivo RS
13

Br1
Palmeiras
Internacional
47

Br1
Bahia
Vasco da Gama
56

Hr1
Hajduk Split
Istra 1961
51

Rs1
OFK Beograd
Zeleznicar Pancevo
49

Rs1
Mladost Lucani
Cukaricki Belgrade
34

Ba1
Zrinjski Mostar
Celik Zenica
46

Ar2
Mitre SdE
Defensores de Belgrano
52

Ar2
Racing de Cordoba
CA San Miguel
58

Bo1
GV San José
Always Ready
56

Cl1
O Higgins
Limache
56

Br2
Nautico
Atlético GO
63

Br2
Novorizontino SP
Juventude
61

Py1
CS San Lorenzo
Sportivo Luqueno
51

Br3
Maringá FC PR
Amazonas
98

Br3
Ypiranga RS
Floresta CE
41

ItC
Benevento Calcio
Ravenna
27

Cl2
Rangers Talca
Curicó Unido
71

Cr2
ADR Jicaral
AD Sarchí
52

VeC
Bolívar SC (VEN)
Dinamo Puerto
74

BrW
Corinthians W
Santos W
33

Pt1
SL Benfica
Académico Viseu
66

Pt1
Moreirense FC
Sporting Braga
46

Pt1
Gil Vicente
Rio Ave
51

Ar2
Godoy Cruz
Chaco For Ever
58

Ve1
Academia Anzoátegui
Portuguesa
57

Ve2
Atlético Ávila
Aragua
83

LC
Seattle Sounders
Querétaro FC
52

Ar2
Quilmes AC
Club Almagro
41

Ve1
Zamora
Puerto Cabello
60

Ve1
Trujillanos FC
Deportivo Tachira
57

Cl3
Colchagua CD
Santiago City
65

ACW
Malawi W
Ghana W
41

Is1
Breidablik
Valur Reykjavik
54

Ar2
Gimnasia y Tiro
Nueva Chicago
62

Pe1
FBC Melgar
FC Cajamarca
41

Pe2
Comerciantes
Bentín Tacna Heroica
51

Ar1
Gimnasia La Plata
Barracas Central
54

Ar1
Defensa y Justicia
Newell’s Old Boys
48

Ar2
San Martín Tucumán
San Martin San Juan
71

Cr1
Inter San Carlos
San Carlos
63

Hn1
Juticalpa
CD Olimpia
42

Br2
Cuiabá
Fortaleza
53

Gt1
San Pedro
Suchitepéquez
62

Ec1
Delfin SC
Orense SC
41

Sv1
Cacahuatique
Fuerte San Francisco
49

Pa1
Unión Coclé
Veraguas CD
72

Us2
Indy Eleven
Hartford Athletic
36

BrW
São Paulo W
RB Bragantino W
34

Co1
Alianza Petrolera
Atlético Bucaramanga
63

Bo1
Real Potosí
Blooming
56

Br1
RB Bragantino
Corinthians
71

Br1
Santos
Atlético PR
62

Cl1
Unión La Calera
Colo Colo
51

Uy1
Nacional (URU)
Boston River
65

Py1
Nacional Asunción
Club Guaraní
52

Br3
Itabaiana SE
Caxias RS
45

Br3
Maranhão MA
Brusque FC SC
58

Cl3
CD Trasandino
Deportes Linares
68

MxW
Atlético San Luis W
Tijuana W
54

Br1
Flamengo
Vitória
53

Ve1
Metropolitanos
UCV FC
45

Gt1
CSD Municipal
Cobán Imperial
56

Ni1
San Marcos
UNAN Managua
64

Tomorrow’s tips
How card bets are settled
Rules differ more for cards than for almost any other bet. For plain yellow card lines, only yellow cards count, and bookmakers differ on how they treat a second yellow that leads to a red. For “total cards” bets, many bookmakers count a red as one card, some as two, and some give a second yellow plus the red as three. Booking points typically give a yellow 10 points and a red 25. Cards shown to substitutes, coaches and unused players can count as well, depending on the bookmaker. Cards shown after the final whistle are normally ignored.
Because of all that, always find out exactly what your bookmaker counts before choosing a line.
How many cards a match has
The average match across 18 leagues produced 4.14 yellow cards. Over 3.5 happened in 58.7% of matches and over 4.5 in 40.3%. A match with no yellow card at all is rare, 3.1% of games. A red card appeared in 17.2%.
League by league
| League | Yellows a match | Over 3.5 | Match with a red |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primeira Liga | 5.30 | 75.7% | 24.7% |
| Greek Super League | 5.06 | 74.0% | 21.0% |
| Serie B | 4.99 | 75.4% | 21.8% |
| La Liga | 4.76 | 67.4% | 22.2% |
| Serie A | 4.21 | 61.9% | 16.2% |
| Premier League | 3.79 | 53.5% | 10.6% |
| Bundesliga | 3.89 | 54.3% | 13.7% |
| Eredivisie | 2.99 | 36.1% | 14.5% |
The spread is huge. A match in Portugal’s top flight has more than a quarter more cards than the average and nearly twice as many as a Dutch one. The same line, over 3.5, lands in three matches out of four in Portugal and one in three in the Netherlands.
Fouls explain part of it, but not all. It took 5.29 fouls to earn a yellow in the Primeira Liga and 7.30 in Ligue 2. Ligue 2 referees let more fouls through before booking.
Referees matter
Within a league, the referee is the next biggest factor. In the Premier League, 17 referees took charge of at least 50 matches in our data. The strictest averaged 4.43 yellow cards a match and the most lenient 3.39, a gap of more than one card a game. Over 4.5 happened in 25% of matches for one referee and 46% for another.
That’s why the appointed referee is the first thing to check on any card bet. Referees are named a few days before the match in most leagues.
Cards over the years
Card counts aren’t fixed. The Premier League averaged about 3.2 yellows a match in the early 2010s, reached 4.17 in 2023/24 and was back at 3.75 in 2025/26. Instructions to referees change from year to year, and so does the typical count. Data from five seasons ago may not describe this one.
Home teams get fewer cards
Home sides collected 46.6% of all yellow cards. On weekdays, Monday and Sunday matches averaged 4.34 and 4.31 yellows, against 3.73 on Tuesdays.
What a red card does
A red card changes the match. When the home team was the only side sent off (2,351 matches), it won 22.5%, drew 27.1% and lost 50.4%. When the away team was the only side sent off (2,972 matches), it won 15.2% and lost 61.1%.
Five rules for card tips
- Pick the league before the line. A 3.5 line is a different bet in Portugal and the Netherlands.
- Check the referee. The gap between strict and lenient referees is about one card a game.
- Know the settlement. Find out how your bookmaker counts reds and second yellows.
- Expect more cards for away teams. They take about 53% of the yellows.
- Use recent data. Card rates drift from season to season.
Common mistakes
The first is backing over on a big match purely because it feels heated. We can’t measure derbies in this data, and the gaps between leagues and between referees are already large enough to check before you think about atmosphere.
The second is ignoring how many fouls a referee lets through. In the same league, two referees can be a card apart.
The third is treating a booking-points line as a cards line. A red is worth 25, so one sending-off can decide the bet.
Questions people ask
What does over 3.5 cards mean? Four yellow cards or more.
Do red cards count? Only if the bet says so.
Which league has the most yellow cards? The Primeira Liga, at 5.30 a match.
Which has the fewest? The Eredivisie, at 2.99.
Do cards after the final whistle count? Normally not.
Are card bets predictable? Less than goals in some ways and more in others. The league and referee give a clearer signal than the teams do.
Where are tomorrow’s and the weekend’s tips? On the tomorrow page and the weekend page.
Tips are estimates and not promises. You must be 18 or over to bet, and a stake should be money you can afford to lose.