Section 7: Violations & Penalties
7.1 Progressive Punishment System
The IHF uses a progressive punishment system for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct:
- Warning (yellow card): Given for the first minor foul or unsportsmanlike act. Each team may receive a maximum of 3 warnings collectively; after 3, further infractions result directly in 2-minute suspensions.
- 2-minute suspension: For significant fouls, repeated minor infractions, illegal defensive actions, and unsportsmanlike conduct. The penalised player must leave the court for 2 minutes, and the team plays short-handed. A third 2-minute suspension for the same player results in automatic disqualification.
- Disqualification (red card): For assault, dangerous play, serious unsportsmanlike conduct, or a third 2-minute suspension. The disqualified player is out of the match, and the team plays short-handed for 2 minutes before substituting.
- Report (blue card): Shown alongside a red card for particularly severe offences (e.g., assault). The incident is referred to the IHF Disciplinary Commission for further sanctions, which may include multi-match suspensions.
7.2 Defensive Fouls
- Body contact fouls: Holding, pushing, tripping, hitting, or charging an opponent: free throw plus possible progressive punishment.
- Destroying a clear chance: Grabbing a player's throwing arm, tackling from behind, or otherwise fouling a player with a clear path to goal: 7 m throw plus 2-minute suspension.
- Endangering an opponent: Tackling at high speed, contacting the head or neck, or any action that puts an opponent's physical safety at risk: immediate 2-minute suspension or disqualification depending on severity.
- Back-pass rule: Deliberately playing the ball to one's own goalkeeper inside the goal area: 7 m throw to the opposition. This prevents teams from stalling by passing back to the goalkeeper in a protected zone.
- Defensive wall formation: When defenders line up at the 6 m line to block shots, only legal body contact (chest and front of body) is permitted. Extending arms to block shots outside of normal body width, or holding attacking players in the wall, constitutes a foul.
7.3 The 7-Metre Throw (Penalty)
Awarded when a clear scoring opportunity is illegally destroyed anywhere on the court. The thrower stands behind the 7 m line and may shoot using any technique. The goalkeeper must remain behind the 4 m restraining line until the ball is released. All other players stand outside the 9 m line. The thrower must shoot within 3 seconds of the referee's whistle.