second yellow cards being given in nothing moments?

this has happened twice now and it is irritating, twice it has been when people have moved for a free kick to be taken after offsides.

player is offside, free kick got awarded, all the players go pack into position, ref then randomly slides to the area and second yellows my player?

this was not the player offside, this was a midfielder, i have watched replays and seen nothing except players going into position, there is no warning in the text it just says ref shows player a red card and the game plays on (after tactics screen to replace the player if you wish) as if it never happened.

I always assumed it was for protesting about the decision.