What can lead to the assignment of Yellow or Red cards by the Head Referee?

The assignment of Yellow or Red cards by the Head Referee is primarily intended to address egregious behavior exhibited by robots or teams during a match. This is in line with the rules of competition, which emphasize maintaining a fair and respectful environment. When a team engages in actions that are significantly outside acceptable behavior—such as exhibiting aggressive conduct, deliberately damaging another team’s robot, or displaying unsportsmanlike behavior—these cards serve as a disciplinary measure to uphold the integrity of the event.

Minor infractions or disagreements, such as arguing with referees or making changes to robots midway through a match, do not warrant such serious consequences. These actions, while perhaps problematic, typically do not rise to the level of conduct that necessitates a Yellow or Red card. Instead, the cards are reserved for situations that could disrupt the overall spirit of competition or jeopardize safety, reinforcing the need for teams to compete fairly and respectfully throughout the event.