Fouls and Misconduct in Soccer

Fouls committed by a player result in awarding the ball to the team that suffered the foul provided the foul occurred outside a penalty area. A direct or indirect free kick is given based on the type of foul or misconduct. The kick is taken from the spot where the foul was committed.

A fundamental difference exists between fouls and misconduct. A foul occurs when a player tries to get the ball from his opponent and kicks him or pushes him away accidentally. A misconduct occurs when a player willingly targets an opponent by punching, kicking or pushing the player away. Fouls can only occur when the ball is in play, but misconduct can occur when it's out of play as well. 

Disciplinary Actions
Colored cards are used in soccer to designate the severity of a foul or misconduct of a player or coach.

A YELLOW card is used to communicate that a player, substitute, or substituted player has been cautioned.

A RED card is used to communicate that a player, substitute or substituted player has been sent off the field (otherwise known as the pitch).

Only a player, substitute or substituted player may be shown a red or yellow card.

A player who commits a caution-able or sending-off offense, either on or off the field of play, whether directed towards an opponent, a team-mate, the referee, an assistant referee or any other person, is disciplined according to the nature of the offense committed.

Yellow Card Offenses

A player is cautioned and shown a yellow card if any of the following seven fouls or misconduct are committed.

1. Unsporting behavior
2. Dissent by word or action
3. Persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game
4. Delaying the restart of play
5. Failure to respect the required distance when play is restarted with a corner kick, free kick or throw-in
6. Entering or re-entering the field of play without the referee’s permission
7. Deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission

A substitute or substituted player is cautioned if any of the following three misconducts are committed.

• Unsporting behavior
• Dissent by word or action
• Delaying the restart of play

Red Card Offenses

A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if any of the following seven fouls are misconducts are committed.

1. Serious foul play
2. Violent conduct
3. Spitting at an opponent or any other person
4. Denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
5. Denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an opponent moving towards the player’s goal by a foul punishable by a free kick or a penalty kick
6. Using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or gestures
7. Receiving a second caution in the same match

A player, substitute or substituted player who receives a Red Card and has been sent off must leave the vicinity of the field of play. These players can not sit on the bench or join spectators. Red card players must leave the area completely (aka. Car) until the match is over.

You can read more about Fouls and Misconduct (Law 12) at fifa.com. Yellow card and red card information is referenced from the FIFA site.