Maximum number of red cards in a single football match?

Answer 1

The referee may show the red card a maximum of 23 times during any game played under the Laws of the Game. It is possible that a total of 36 red cards may be shown in connection with the match, because the referee may continue to show the red card after the match has ended; the referee's authority extends to all points in connection with the match while in the vicinity of the field, including immediately afterward.

According to the IFAB Laws of the Game (paraphrased, but correct), which can be found on the FIFA website:

Law 3 states that each team shall field (up to) 11 players, but cannot play with fewer than seven. It may also nominate up to seven substitutes.

Law 12 gives the referee the power to show the red card (send off, eject) and show the yellow card (caution, booking) to players, substitutes, and substituted players for various offenses of misconduct. It does not specifically restrict the number of cards a referee may show.

A "player" is one of the 11 team members who are allowed to participate in the game at the time. This includes substitutes who have replaced a player by the substitution procedure outlined in Law 3. A "substitute" is one of the (up to) seven team members who have been named as such at the beginning of the game, and who have not played in this game. A "substituted player" is a player who has been replaced by a substitute and can no longer play in this game, but it still under the authority of the referee.

If a player is sent off, the team plays short (to a minimum of seven). If a substitute or substituted player is sent off (from the bench), it does not affect the number of fielded players.

If all seven substitutes and substituted players on the bench (tactical area) are shown the red card, and four field players are shown the red card, the game may still continue. This total of 11 is for one team. Both teams may theoretically receive a combined 22 red cards and continue to play. A 23rd red card will end the game in this extreme case, but it will still count, as will any red cards shown after the final whistle in the vicinity of the field.

Note: Some competitions, particularly youth leagues, amateur leagues, master's (over 35) leagues, and many unofficial pickup games, scrimmages, and exhibition games do not strictly follow the Laws of the Game, and so the number may be different in those cases, and different for each set of rules used, in particular a difference in the number of substitutes allowed.

Note 2: It is very unlikely that such a number as 23 or 36 would actually be reached. Any game that is so disorderly or violent as to warrant that many red cards would likely be abandoned long before reaching those numbers.

Answer 2

The exact number varies be league or competition. Most often, a red card means that you may not play in the next game (in addition to not finishing the current one). In many of these leagues, a second red card in the same season will warrant a two-game suspension, and a third will force you to sit out for three games. A fourth red card will usually mean suspension for the rest of the season. These guidelines will vary widely from league to league and country to country. Some leagues will eventually decide that they just don't want a certain exceptionally-violent player to be in their league at all and ban him for life.

Answer 3

Simply each team must have at least seven players on the pitch. One team receiving five red cards ends the game, the result is then given 3-0 in favor of the other team. In one match there could be a maximum of 8 red cards, but that's not what the game is about.

Answer 4

There is no limit as to the number of red cards that a player can receive in one match. In 1997 Dean Windass received 3 red cards in one game whilst playing for Aberdeen. The first was for serious foul play, the second was for verbally abusing the referee and the third was for kicking the corner flag away.

In 2010 Ricky Broadley received 3 red cards whilst playing for Welsh amateur side Mountain Rangers. He stamped on an opponent to receive the first, then threw water at the referee for the second and continued to verbally abuse the referee for the third. He was also reported for post-match abuse of the referee in the clubhouse after the match.

The most red cards issued to one player in one match in Britain is SIX. In 2009 Paul Cooper received that number whilst playing for Hawick. He was subsequently banned from all football for two years.

Thus it is a myth that a player may only be sent off once per football match.

Answer 5

The referee is allowed to give one red card per player per game.

Answer 6

There can be 36 cautions (yellow) cards awarded in a single football match. Any more cautions would result in termination of the match due to insufficient number of players on one team.