In soccer, a red card means the player is sent off immediately and cannot stay in the match. Their team must finish the game with one fewer player, and the player usually faces a suspension in a later match or matches, depending on the competition rules.

What it means

  • The referee removes the player from the field right away.
  • The team cannot substitute another player in for that dismissal, so it plays with 10 players.
  • A red card can be shown for serious foul play, violent conduct, offensive language, deliberate handball to stop a goal, or a second yellow card.

What happens next

  • The player is out for the rest of that game.
  • A suspension usually follows, often at least one match, but the exact length depends on the league or tournament.
  • In some cases, the team can replace a dismissed goalkeeper with another goalkeeper only if one is available on the bench; otherwise, an outfield player may have to go in goal.

Simple example

If a defender stops a clear goal-scoring chance with a foul, the referee may show a red card. That defender leaves immediately, and the team must defend the rest of the match with 10 players.

Quick note

A second yellow card in the same match becomes a red card, so the player is also sent off.