Players know that taking off a shirt after scoring, or kicking the ball away after a whistle has blown, are yellow cards that are unforgivable.
So how can Danny Welbeck or Roy Hodgson complain?
Hodgson was left raging despite England going to of Group H as a yellow card for two-goal hero Welbeck ruled him out of Tuesday's crucial qualifier with Ukraine in Kiev.
Steven Gerrard's first goal in more than three years set England on their way to an anticipated triumph against Moldova at Wembley as Rickie Lambert became the first player to score in his first two internationals in 37 years.
Welbeck also grabbed a couple either side of half-time to extend a remarkable scoring record for his country.
But it was the yellow card shown to the Manchester United man by Slovakian referee Ivan Kruzliak that had the England boss Hodgson waving his arms on the touchline in fury.
Cautioned for kicking the ball after the whistle had gone for offside, Welbeck is now suspended for Tuesday's assignment, which will go a long way to determining whether England qualify directly for next year's World Cup.
With Wayne Rooney injured and Daniel Sturridge almost certain to miss out too, it was a cruel blow.
And it was made all the worse because Kruzliak had let Victor Golovatenco get away with two crunching tackles from behind on Theo Walcott earlier in the contest.
Hodgson made his feelings known in no uncertain manner, expressing his anger to the fourth official.
Comfort came in the result, with Montenegro's draw in Poland meaning England now top their group with three games left - although Ukraine are just a point behind and have a substantially improved goal difference after hammering nine past San Marino.
Football Association chairman Greg Dyke was present in the week when he dropped his two bombshells; setting England the target of winning the World Cup in 2022, whilst at the same time expressing a belief they have little chance of lifting the trophy in Brazil next summer.
Although the latter comments has been seized on as being somewhat crass for a man in his position, it is a sentiment shared by the majority.
And nothing that occurred tonight was going to change those opinions.
On the evidence of their meetings with Hodgson's men, it is beyond comprehension how Moldova have managed secure draws with group heavyweights Poland and Ukraine, which could in the end turn out to be very handy.
As in England's five-goal romp in Chisinau, Moldova were no threat and it was just a question of how long the hosts would have to wait for their opener.
The answer was 11 minutes, by which time Lambert had rifled a fierce effort wide and Kyle Walker had fizzed a low cross through the six-yard box without an England player managing to get a touch on it.
It took some hard graft from Welbeck and Ashley Cole to create the opportunity, laying the ball into Frank Lampard's path.
So often has it been said Lampard and Gerrard cannot play together.
They did okay this time though as the Chelsea man, on his 99th appearance, rolled the ball into Gerrard's path and the skipper drilled a superb shot that nestled in the corner of Stanislav Namasco's goal.
If Joe Hart has had his critics recently, it would be fair to say Namasco would have a few more if he tried to forge a career in England.
The Moldova goalkeeper looked ill at ease virtually every time he was threatened, which was often.
When Theo Walcott lashed a shot goalwards, Namasco could only push it straight onto Lambert's head.
For a man brought up on the long-ball tactics of lower leagues, who exactly 10 years ago was an unused substitute for Stockport, it was an opportunity to relish, and he steered the ball in to become the first man in 37 years to score on his first two England appearances.
Welbeck's booking - and Hodgson's fury came shortly afterwards.
The England boss was probably considering how to replace the Manchester United man in Kiev when Welbeck extended his remarkable international scoring record.
Showing a neat turn of pace, Welbeck exposed some slack Moldovan defending as he raced onto Lambert's long ball, skipped round Namasco and rolled the ball in.
Lambert was the provider for Welbeck's second too, finding his strike partner with a short pass that allowed him to clip a neat effort into the corner.
Milner replaced Lambert before the end in what seemed a clear audition for Welbeck's job, although a woeful injury time miss will not have done much to inspire confidence.
NEWCASTLE UTD 1 FULHAM 0
1. Tim Krul
26. Mathieu Debuchy
13. Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa
2. Fabricio Coloccini
3. Davide Santon
10. Hatem Ben Arfa
7. Moussa Sissoko
8. Vurnon Anita 65'
22. Sylvain Marveaux 74'
23. Shola Ameobi 65'
9. Papiss Cisse
Subs
4. Yohan Cabaye 65'
11. Yoan Gouffran 65'
14. Loic Remy 74'
15. Dan Gosling
21. Rob Elliot
28. Sammy Ameobi
36. Paul Dummett
Hatem Ben Arfa ended Newcastle's wait for a Barclays Premier League goal after 411 minutes to hand Alan Pardew a precious victory over Fulham.The France international produced a piece of individual magic four minutes from time to create half a yard of space and rifle a stunning left-foot shot past the helpless David Stockdale to claim a first league win of the season.
Until his last-gasp intervention, it looked like being another frustrating afternoon for Pardew and his players as chances came and went without the deadlock being broken.
Papiss Cisse saw a 78th-minute header come back off the crossbar and Yoan Gouffran, who passed up a glorious opportunity against West Ham last weekend, glanced a header harmlessly wide with the goal with his mercy after Yohan Cabaye had been introduced to a mixed reception as a second-half substitute.
But Ben Arfa's inspiration proved enough to send Newcastle into the international break with the win they craved, although with Cabaye's future unresolved and a desperate search for reinforcements ongoing.
Newcastle dominated for long periods as Fulham arrived prepared to soak up what pressure their hosts could muster and then hit them on the break.
However, the killer instinct which has deserted since the end of last season continued to be conspicuous by its absence as a series of openings, albeit few of them clear-cut, went begging.
Mathieu Debuchy and Cisse were both denied by Stockdale before the break, and the keeper did well to claim Ben Arfa's deflected 62nd-minute effort.
Pardew sent on loan signing Loic Remy, the only new face to arrive at St James' Park so far this summer, with 16 minutes remaining, and his arrival prompted a fresh assault on the Fulham goal, although ultimately to no avail.
And it might have been even worse for the 52-year-old when Adel Taarabt was presented with the ball by Fabricio Coloccini 15 yards out, although keeper Tim Krul, who had earlier clawed away Bryan Ruiz's goal-bound free-kick, saved once again.
NEWCASTLE UTD FIXTURES
Saturday September 14
15:00 Premier League
Aston Villa v Newcastle United
Saturday September 21
15:00 Premier League
Newcastle United v Hull City
Wednesday September 25
19:45 League Cup - 3rd Rnd
Newcastle United v Leeds United
Monday September 30
20:00 Premier League
Everton v Newcastle United
Saturday October 5
15:00 Premier League
Cardiff City v Newcastle United
Saturday October 19
12:45 Premier League
Newcastle United v Liverpool
Sunday October 27
16:00 Premier League
Sunderland v Newcastle United