Chairman's Corner

P-Yellow card is still in effect at USA Fencing events

The following is an exerp from the email coorespondance sent by

Matt Tucker

Vice Chair, Rules & Examinations

USA Fencing Referees' Commission

>What changed at the FIE: At the 2025 FIE Congress, the FIE amended t.124, "Unwillingness to Fight (Non-combativity)," to remove the P-Yellow card beginning with the 2026-27 FIE season.

What has not changed at USA Fencing: This rule change is not in effect at USA Fencing competitions. Every change to the USA Fencing Rules must be approved by the USA Fencing Board of Directors. The Referees' Commission will present the relevant proposal at the next Board of Directors meeting.

What to expect at your next tournament: Until further notice, referees at USA Fencing competitions will continue to apply the P-Yellow card for the first instance of unwillingness to fight, exactly as they did last season. Referees are applying the rules correctly when they do so.

If the Board approves the change, we will announce the date on which t.124 will take effect in USA Fencing competition. Until you hear that from us, nothing has changed.<