What are yellow and red cards issued in table tennis?

There is no clear guide on when yellow and red cards are issued. They are given for "misbehavior" but that is not clearly defined in the handbook.

In the 2024 ITTF Status, this is the only info regarding issuing yellow and red cards which is obviously obscure.

When a player is formally warned for bad behaviour, a yellow marker shall be placed on or near the score indicator.

                                                                                       2024 ITTF Statutes,  Match Conduct 3.4.1.5

Basically, the 'escalation ladder' to use as un Umpire is to:

• first give a verbal varning
• second show a yellow card
• third hold up both a yellow and a red card and give one point to the opponent.
• forth hold up same pair of one yellow and one red card and give two points to the opponent.
• forth step is not repeated, see fifth step.
• fifth stop the game, contact the referee (who most likely will show one red card and suspend the player from the tournament and also maybe next tournament).

As an Umpire you seldom follow all steps in the escalation ladder. (Often you stop at verbal varning.)

If the player makes one illegal serve, then you start with a verbal warning. Say that next thing s/he does after lost a couple of balls is to throw the racket so that it bounce in to a bystander - then you stop the game and contact the referee - see fifth point.

https://documents.ittf.sport/sites/default/files/public/2022-02/ITTF_HB_2022_clean_v1_0.pdf

3.5.2.1 Players and coaches or other advisers shall refrain from behaviour that may
unfairly affect an opponent, offend spectators or bring the sport into
disrepute, such as abusive language, deliberately breaking the ball or hitting
it out of the playing area, kicking the table or surrounds and disrespect of
match officials.

3.5.2.2 If at any time a player, a coach or another adviser commits a serious offence
the umpire shall suspend play and report immediately to the referee; for less
serious offences the umpire may, on the first occasion, hold up a yellow card
and warn the offender that any further offence is liable to incur penalties.

3.5.2.3 Except as provided in 3.5.2.2 and 3.5.2.5, if a player who has been warned
commits a second offence in the same individual match or team match, the
umpire shall award 1 point to the offender's opponent and for a further
offence he or she shall award 2 points, each time holding up a yellow and a
red card together.

3.5.2.4 If a player against whom 3 penalty points have been awarded in the same
individual match or team match continues to misbehave, the umpire shall
suspend play and report immediately to the referee.

@inyagan 

Amazing. In the Philippines, I don't recall a game being stopped for repeated misbehavior. 

At local tournaments, we don't have these cards. And the umpire/referee kinda loose. We all have sorts of illegal serve here (unfortunately).

@vanreyes It is very uncommon to stop a match and handle out a red card in my country as well.

Table tennis is a global gentlemen sport in all aspects except serves.. we all seem to have that problem and older players who didn't have to toss the ball when they played as young they still don't toss the ball..

And those who have spent hours after hours to make a decent reverse pendulum serve they do their best to hide the contact point. As that would be the great benefit with the serve.. 🤨 

Thank you all for the detailed answers. I was going to attend Ms. Rachel Ramos umpire course program but something came up that prevent from attending it.

Anyone have attended any of those ITTF Umpire Course program?