A red card means the player is sent off immediately and cannot keep playing in that match. Their team must continue with one fewer player for the rest of the game, and the player usually faces a suspension for a future match or matches as well.

What changes right away

  • The referee removes the player from the field immediately.
  • The team cannot replace that player, so it plays with 10 instead of 11.
  • If the red card is for a second yellow, the result is still an ejection from the match.

Common reasons

A red card can be shown for serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting, denying an obvious goal-scoring chance, offensive language or gestures, or getting a second yellow card.

What happens next

After the match, the player is usually reviewed by the competition and may receive a ban from later games; the length depends on the offense and the rules of that league or tournament.

Quick example

If a defender stops a clear goal-scoring chance with a deliberate foul, the referee may show a red card, the defender leaves immediately, and the team finishes the match short-handed.

TL;DR: red card = immediate removal, no substitute, team plays with 10, and the player may be suspended afterward.