A red card in football means a player is sent off immediately and cannot be replaced, so their team finishes the match with one fewer player. It is usually shown for the most serious offences, or after a second yellow card in the same game.

When a red card is shown

Common reasons include:

  • Serious foul play.
  • Violent conduct.
  • Spitting.
  • Denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
  • Offensive, insulting, or abusive language or gestures.
  • A second yellow card in the same match.

What happens next

  • The player must leave the field right away.
  • Their team plays the rest of the match with 10 players.
  • The player usually serves a suspension in the next match, and harsher offences can mean longer bans.

Simple example

If a defender stops a clear goal with a deliberate handball, the referee can show a red card, and the player is out for the rest of the game.

TL;DR: a red card is the referee’s signal for a send-off, and it usually means immediate removal plus a suspension.