The Romanian Football Federation (FRF) has introduced a black card, which will first be implemented in youth football as part of a new measure aimed at tackling abusive behaviour from parents and spectators.
The new procedure, adopted by the FRF Emergency Committee on September 11, 2026, applies to youth competitions involving players in the U7 to U16 age categories.
Under the new regulations, the black card is shown by the referee when inappropriate behaviour from spectators or parents persists and forces the permanent abandonment of a match.
The procedure consists of three stages.
First, the referee temporarily stops the match and asks the coaches to speak to their respective supporters or parents and ensure that the misconduct stops. Where available, announcements can also be made through the stadium’s public-address system.
If the behaviour continues, the referee suspends the match for 10 minutes and sends both teams to their dressing rooms. Coaches are again expected to help calm the situation during the suspension.
If the abusive behaviour continues after the match resumes, the referee blows the final whistle and permanently abandons the game. The black card is then displayed to signal that the match cannot continue.
The measure covers various forms of misconduct, including verbal abuse, physical assault or shoving involving children, players, coaches, referees, match officials, parents and other spectators.
The FRF said the initiative is designed to ensure that children are not negatively affected by the ambitions, pressure or frustrations of adults watching from the stands.
The black card forms part of the federation’s broader B.R.A.V.O. initiative, which seeks to create a safer and healthier environment for children in football.
According to the FRF, all 130 academies involved in its Academy Classification have received materials explaining the rules of conduct for parents and the new three-step procedure.
The federation also noted that it introduced Silent Day in U13 and U14 competitions last season, during which parents and coaches are prohibited from shouting from the sidelines on designated matchdays.
