A red card in soccer means the player is sent off and must leave the match immediately. Their team has to finish with one fewer player, and the player is usually suspended for at least the next game.

What it does

  • The player cannot stay on the field.
  • The team cannot replace that player with a substitute, so they play short-handed.
  • In many competitions, the player also gets a suspension for future matches.

Why a red card happens

Common reasons include:

  • Serious foul play.
  • Violent conduct.
  • Spitting.
  • Abusive or offensive language or gestures.
  • Denying an obvious goal-scoring chance, sometimes by handball or foul.

Second yellow

If a player gets two yellow cards in the same match, those combine into a red card, and the player is sent off.

Simple example

If a defender takes down a player who is clearly through on goal, the referee may show a red card. That means the defender leaves immediately, and the rest of the team must defend with 10 players.

Quick note

Yellow is a warning; red is the strongest in-game punishment and usually means immediate dismissal.