red card
What is the definition of red card in soccer?
1. A red card is the most serious penalty a player can receive in soccer. It is given for on-field offenses such as serious foul play, abusive language, violent conduct and deliberately touching the ball with a hand to prevent a goal.
When this penalty is given, the referee holds the red card in the air and records the player’s name in their notebook. After that, the player must leave the field and cannot be replaced, so their team must play one player short for the remainder of the game. As with yellow cards (which are given for slightly less serious offenses), a red card indicates behavior that will not be tolerated on the field. If a player receives two yellow cards in one game, a red card is given.
What is a red card in soccer?
A red card is a soccer penalty for serious offenses that occur on the field. A player must exit the field after receiving a red card and can’t be replaced with a substitution.
What are red card offenses?
According to the Laws of the Game, the following types of misconduct on the field warrant a red card penalty:
- Abusive, offensive or insulting language or actions
- Serious foul play (excessive force by a player that puts a member of the opposing team in danger)
- Violent conduct (similar to serious foul play, but can be committed against any person, including teammates, match officials and spectators)
- Denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a handball (except for goalkeepers within their penalty area, where they are permitted to use their hands)
- Denial of an obvious goal-scoring opportunity with a foul (except for situations in which the referee determines that it was an attempt to play the ball)
- Entering the video operation room in matches where Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology is used
- Receipt of a second yellow card in the same match
The types of infractions that result in a red card cover very broad categories. The issuing of a red card is left up to the referee’s decision, which sometimes leads to controversial calls. In some instances, players who are issued a red card are permitted to remain on the field while the referee confers with other match officials or until the play has been reviewed with a VAR system.
What is a straight red card?
A straight red card is the term for a red card issued directly following a serious offense. This means that a player is being dismissed from the game for a single major foul or serious incident of misconduct.
If a player receives a red card as the result of a second caution, giving them a total of two yellow cards, it is not a straight red card. These red cards are typically the result of slightly less serious offenses in comparison to the major infractions that can result in a straight red card. These types of penalties are also known as direct and indirect red cards, respectively.
How long is a straight red card ban?
If a player receives a straight red card, they must exit the field immediately. In addition to sending off the player from a match currently in progress, some leagues also impose a one or two-match ban depending on the nature of the player’s misconduct.
What are the consequences of a red card in soccer?
The penalty for a red card is instant dismissal from the game. The player must leave the field immediately, is not permitted to return to the field of play or remain in the team’s technical area for the remainder of the game.
In addition, the player cannot be replaced on the field with a substituted player. Instead, the team will be one player down for the remainder of the game. If the goalkeeper receives a red card, the team must still finish the game with one less player on the field, but they are permitted to substitute an outfield player in order to replace the goalie with a backup keeper.
After the player with the red card leaves the field, the opposing team will restart play with one of the following actions, depending on the nature of the penalty and where it took place on the field:
How many games are you out if you get a red card in soccer?
The soccer rules on subsequent match suspensions for red cards vary. In certain leagues and in tournaments like the World Cup, a direct or indirect red card may also disqualify a player from participating in one or more of the team’s following matches. The length of the game suspension is often determined by the severity of the infraction.
Players who receive a red card are dismissed from the field immediately. If a player is suspended from subsequent games, however, the team will not have to play with one less soccer player on the field in those matches.
How many red cards can a player get before they are suspended?
Individual leagues and tournaments can set their own rules for whether a player is suspended from future soccer games for receiving a red card. At higher levels of play, such as professional soccer and international matches, a red card typically results in an automatic suspension for one to two games, depending on how severe their infraction was. For example, players in Champions League and Premier League matches are suspended for at least one match after getting a red card.
In addition, some leagues penalize players with game suspensions if they accrue a certain number of yellow cards throughout the season.
How many red cards can a team get in a game?
Soccer teams can get up to four red cards in one game. Since each team has 11 players on the field, and a red card results in an immediate dismissal from the game, four red cards would leave a team with seven players on the field. If the team were to receive a fifth red card, they would have to forfeit the match since each team must have a minimum of seven players on the field to compete.
What is the difference between a red card and a yellow card?
In soccer, red cards are more serious penalties compared to yellow cards. A red card is issued to a soccer player for serious infractions, such as violent conduct, serious foul play or abusive language.
Yellow cards, on the other hand, are issued for slightly less serious infractions. They are considered an official caution from the referee given to warn a player about their on-field behavior. Some of the type of offenses which may warrant a yellow card include:
- Persistently infringing on the Laws of the Game
- Unsporting behavior, such as reckless fouls or excessive goal celebrations
- Dissenting through action or words
- Delaying the restart of play
- Failing to keep the required distance from a player making a free kick, corner kick or throw-in
- Entering or leaving the field without the permission of the referee
- Entering the VAR review area
When a player receives one yellow card in a game, they do not have to leave the field. The referee records their details in a notebook, and the opposing team is typically given a free kick.
How many yellow cards can you get before you get a red card in soccer?
If a player receives two yellow cards in a match, they are automatically issued a red card. They must leave the field immediately, and their team must play with one less player for the remainder of the game. Depending on league or tournament rules, they may also receive a suspension for the next game.
When was the red card introduced in soccer?
During a a quarterfinal match between England and Argentina in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, the reasons for the referee’s decisions to caution or send off players weren’t immediately clear. Members of the team’s management had to follow up with the ref to find out why the calls were made.
Looking for a way to clarify those calls during games, British soccer referee and FIFA Referees’ Committee member Ken Aston searched for a clearer way to announce penalties on the field. He thought of the traffic light color coding system as an easy way to communicate “caution” (yellow) and “stop” (red) across all languages.
Aston’s new system was first implemented in the next World Cup held in 1970. After that tournament, it was widely adopted in the sport.
What happened before red cards in football?
The Laws of the Game have included rules for cautioning players or sending them off the field since 1881. Prior to the color-coded card system, match officials were allowed to issue these penalties to players at their discretion based on the severity of each on-field offense, but no cards were shown on the field.
Who has the most red cards in soccer history?
Colombian soccer player Gerardo Bedoya has more red cards than any other professional player in soccer history with a total of 46. His nickname of “the beast” is a reference to his rough style of play. He once earned a 15-match ban after getting a red card for one particularly dirty play in which he kicked at a downed player’s head.
Which team has the most red cards in World Cup history?
The FIFA World Cup was first held in 1930, prior to the use of red cards to signal a dismissal from the game. The teams with the most dismissals in World Cup history are as follows:
- Brazil: 11
- Argentina: 10
- Uruguay: 9
- Cameroon: 8
- Italy: 8
What is the fastest red card in soccer history?
The fastest red card in history was issued to Lee Todd, a Cross Farm Park Celtic striker, only two seconds into a match against the Taunton East Reach Wanderers. When the referee blew his whistle to begin the game, Todd was startled by the noise. He used foul language within earshot of the ref, earning him a red card almost immediately after kickoff.
Who got the first red card in a World Cup game?
The first red card in a World Cup game was given to Chilean forward Carlos Caszely in 1974 in a matchup against West Germany. He received the red card automatically after earning his second yellow card in the game.
Which football players have never gotten a red card?
There have been a number of soccer players who never got a red card in their entire professional and international career. Some of the players on this list as of May 2023 include:
- Stanley Matthews
- Gary Lineker
- Michael Platini
- Raul
- Hernan Crespo
- Aaron Hughes
- Dominique Rocheteau
- Philipp Lahm
- Ryan Giggs
- Joao Moutinho
- Andrés Iniesta
- Karim Benzema
Notable red cards in soccer history
Red cards can have a significant impact on the outcome of soccer games. In addition, serious infractions during high-stakes games tend to leave a lasting impression on the sport. The following are some of the most infamous red cards in World Cup history.
1982 World Cup: Diego Maradona
Archrivals Brazil and Argentina faced off in the second round of the tournament. Brazilian midfielder Batista had been subbed near the end of the match with his team leading 3-0. Within minutes, he encountered Argentina’s Diego Maradona, who let his frustration get the best of him and viciously kicked Batista in the groin area, earning a straight red card just as his team was about to lose the match and get eliminated from the tournament.
1998 World Cup: David Beckham
During a round of 16 match against Argentina, English midfielder David Beckham — one of the most promising soccer stars at the time — was fouled by Diego Simeone. He retaliated with a kick and received a straight red card, sending him off the field. England ultimately lost the game 4-3.
2006 World Cup: Wayne Rooney
Wayne Rooney, a star player for England’s national team, received a straight red card in the quarterfinal against Portugal after appearing to stamp on the groin of Ricardo Carvalho. Cristiano Ronaldo, playing for Portugal and a Manchester United teammate of Rooney’s at the time, demanded a red card from the ref for the lack of fair play, which led to Rooney pushing him away. As Rooney left the field following the call, Ronaldo famously winked at the Portugal bench.
2006 World Cup: Zinedine Zidane
Zinedine Zidane was sent off for one of the most infamous infractions in World Cup history. Zidane, a player for Real Madrid who was competing for his home country of France, was playing in the final against Italy. He had scored on a Panenka penalty kick early in the game. As the match went into extra time, Italian player Marco Materazzi verbally provoked Zidane, after which Zidane proceeded to knock him to the ground by headbutting him in the chest. Zidane received a direct red card and had to leave the field. Italy ultimately won the World Cup in a penalty shootout.
2010 World Cup: Luis Suarez
In extra time of the semifinal match against Uruguay, Ghana’s Dominic Adiyiah struck a header toward the goal which would’ve put his team in the lead. However, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez was positioned on the goal line, and he raised his hand up to block the goal. The move earned him a straight red card. On his way off the field, he celebrated as Ghana’s penalty kick hit the crossbar. Uruguay went on to win 4-2 in a penalty shootout to advance to the semifinals.
Examples of how red card is used in commentary
1. After spitting on his opponent, Manning received a red card and was ejected from the game.
2. Going into extra time, the players were already exhausted after playing a man down due to a red card awarded early in the game.
Sport the term is used
1. Soccer
