A team can usually receive up to 4 red cards before a match is abandoned, because a team must be able to keep at least seven players on the field. In theory, red cards shown to substitutes or staff off the pitch can add to the total, but for players actually on the field, four is the practical limit for one team.

Why that limit exists

A match cannot continue if a team drops below seven players. Since a team starts with 11, losing 4 players leaves 7, and losing a 5th would force the game to stop.

Simple example

  • 1 red card: team still has 10 players.
  • 2 red cards: team has 9 players.
  • 3 red cards: team has 8 players.
  • 4 red cards: team has 7 players.
  • 5 red cards: match ends because the team would have only 6 players.

One nuance

Some articles note that red cards can also be issued to substitutes, substituted players, or team officials, which can make the total red cards in a match higher than four for one team or even higher overall. But if you mean players currently on the field, the answer is 4 per team.

TL;DR: A team can get 4 red cards on the field in one match; a 5th would usually end the game.