A red card in soccer means a player is sent off the field immediately and cannot be replaced, so their team must finish the match with one fewer player. It’s usually given for a serious foul, violent conduct, denying an obvious goal-scoring chance, spitting, abusive language, or after a second yellow card.

What happens next

  • The player must leave the game right away.
  • Their team plays with 10 players instead of 11.
  • The player is often suspended for at least the next match, depending on the competition’s rules.

Simple example

If a defender trips an attacker who was clearly about to score, the referee may show a red card because the foul stopped an obvious goal-scoring chance.

Yellow vs. red

  • A yellow card is a warning.
  • Two yellow cards in the same match add up to a red card.

A red card is basically soccer’s most serious in-game punishment.