What is a temporary dismissal?

A temporary dismissal is a football sanction that removes a player from the pitch for a set period and then allows him to return. It is often called a sin bin, and it sits between a yellow card and a red card because the player loses time in the match without being thrown out of it. In Premier League rules, the disciplinary events are yellow and red cards, with FPL penalties of -1 and -3 points respectively.

How it works

With a temporary dismissal, the referee decides that an offence is more serious than a warning but not serious enough for a permanent sending-off. The player leaves the field. The team continues with one fewer player, which is the punishment in the moment. After the period set by the competition has been served, the player returns with the referee's permission.

That return is the difference from a red card. A red card removes a player for the rest of the match. In FPL scoring, a red card costs -3 points. A temporary dismissal has no listed FPL penalty because it is not a permanent dismissal. The player is being taken out of the action, not expelled from it.

The exact details depend on the competition using the rule. There has to be a length for the punishment, a rule for refusing to leave, a rule for a second offence, and a rule for how the period is counted when the ball is out of play. None of that detail appears in the Premier League's standard card structure. The standard card structure is a yellow warning or a red exit.

Key details

A temporary dismissal is not a substitution. Substitutions in the Premier League are permanent. The league allows five substitutions per match, made in a maximum of three windows plus half-time, and a substituted player cannot come back. A temporarily dismissed player is expected to come back. The two rules solve different problems: substitutions are tactical, while a temporary dismissal is disciplinary.

For a manager, the immediate concern is numerical disadvantage. Playing with one fewer player for a set period changes shape, energy, and the use of substitutions. A team might sit deeper, switch to a back four, or take off a forward to protect a result. The temporary nature of the sanction limits the damage but does not remove it.

For a player, the sanction is a warning with a sharper edge. A yellow card costs -1 point in FPL and the player stays on. A red card costs -3 points and the player is gone. If a temporary dismissal were added to the standard scoring system, it would need its own penalty. The current Premier League scoring rules do not include one.

Common confusions

The most common confusion is calling a temporary dismissal a red card. It is not a red card. A red card is the end of the match for that player. A temporary dismissal has a return point, and that changes everything about how the team plans.

The second confusion is treating a temporary dismissal as a yellow card. A yellow card keeps the player on the field. It is a warning, and it costs -1 point in FPL. A temporary dismissal removes the player from the field for a period. A player can take a yellow card and keep playing; a player cannot do that during a temporary dismissal.

The third confusion is comparing a temporary dismissal to a substitution. A substitution is permanent. Once a player leaves, the match continues without him. A temporary dismissal is not a tactical choice and does not consume one of the five substitution slots. It is a disciplinary event controlled by the referee.

| Sanction | Player leaves pitch? | Player can return? | FPL points | | Temporary dismissal | Yes | Yes | Not listed | | Yellow card | No | Yes | -1 | | Red card | Yes | No | -3 |

The table oversimplifies because competitions can set different temporary-dismissal rules, but it captures the main distinction: a temporary dismissal is a middle category between a warning and a permanent exit.

What this means for the Premier League

The Premier League's card structure is built around permanent dismissals. The scoring categories cover goals, assists, clean sheets, appearances, bonus, and cards. The card events are yellow and red, not temporary. That does not mean temporary dismissals can never be introduced; it means the rule would have to be added before it could affect a match or a fantasy score.

If the rule is introduced, the important choices are the length of removal, the number of temporary dismissals before an upgrade, and the scoring consequence. The absence in the current rules is useful because it shows what needs defining rather than assuming a standard answer. The broader league structure also keeps the stakes clear: points, goal difference, goals scored, then head-to-head decide ties, and the bottom three are relegated to the Championship.

Key takeaways

• A temporary dismissal is a sin bin: a player leaves the pitch for a set period and can return.
• A red card removes a player for the rest of the match and costs -3 points in FPL.
• A yellow card costs -1 point and leaves the player on the pitch.
• Substitutions are permanent, so a temporary dismissal is not the same as using one of the five allowed changes.
• The Premier League's scoring rules list no separate FPL penalty for a temporary dismissal, leaving the standard categories as yellow and red.

FAQ

What is a temporary dismissal in football? A temporary dismissal sends a player off for a set period before allowing him back. It is often called a sin bin and sits between a yellow card and a red card.

Is a temporary dismissal the same as a red card? No. A red card ends the player's match and costs -3 points in FPL. A temporary dismissal has a return point and is not listed as an FPL penalty.

Does a temporary dismissal affect Fantasy Premier League? The FPL scoring rules list yellow card -1 and red card -3, plus points for goals, assists, clean sheets, appearances, bonus, and captaincy, but no temporary dismissal. Any fantasy impact would have to be set separately.

How long does a temporary dismissal last? The duration depends on the competition using the rule. The Premier League scoring data does not specify a standard number of minutes.