The immediate consequence

A player who receives a red card must:

• Leave the field immediately
• Leave the technical area entirely
• Not communicate with the team during the rest of the match

Their team plays the remaining minutes with ten players. The player cannot be replaced — even if the team has substitutions available.

Substitutions are not affected

A common confusion. The red card does not consume a substitution. If a team has three substitutes remaining when a player is sent off:

• They keep all three substitutes available
• They can use them on the players still on the pitch
• They cannot use one to bring on a new outfield player to replace the dismissed one

The numerical disadvantage is the cost. The substitution count is unchanged.

Goalkeeper dismissals

If a goalkeeper is sent off, the team must put a different player in goal. Two options:

1. Substitute keeper — if a substitution is still available, bring on a backup goalkeeper. An outfield player must come off to make room.
2. Outfield player in goal — if no substitutes remain, an existing player wears the goalkeeper jersey and takes the position.

Either way, the team is still down to ten players overall. The goalkeeper change uses a substitution if one is made — that is the only sub the red card "costs," indirectly.

Match suspensions

A red card means the player is automatically suspended for at least the next match in the same competition. The exact suspension depends on:

• The offence — violent conduct and serious foul play often carry longer bans
• The competition — different leagues and federations have different disciplinary tariffs
• Repeat offences — players with prior reds may face escalating bans
• Subsequent disciplinary review — committees can extend bans for serious incidents

A second-yellow red typically carries a one-match ban. A straight red for violent conduct can be three or more.

What the team does tactically

Going down to ten changes everything:

• Many teams drop a striker or attacking midfielder to add a defensive line
• Pressing intensity drops to conserve energy
• The match clock becomes an asset — slowing tempo helps the short side
• The leading team with ten often defends deeper; the trailing team with ten faces the hardest task

Coaches typically use a substitution shortly after the red to reorganise.

Where the dismissed player goes

A sent-off player must leave the field of play and the technical area. They cannot:

• Sit on the team bench
• Communicate with coaching staff
• Stay at pitch level with substitutes warming up

In some competitions, they must leave the stadium entirely, or at minimum the tunnel area. The exact requirement varies by federation.

Manager and staff dismissals

Coaches and staff can also receive red cards for misconduct in the technical area. They are required to leave the technical area but the team is not reduced — only player dismissals reduce the on-field number.

After the match

Disciplinary review can change the original outcome:

• A red card can be rescinded by the league if review shows it was clearly wrong (not for second yellows in most competitions)
• A red card can be upheld with extended suspension if the offence was more serious than the referee judged
• Reckless behaviour by sent-off players after dismissal (confronting officials, refusing to leave) typically draws additional sanctions

Each league publishes its own disciplinary guidelines.