Why Was That a Red Card?

A red card is shown for six main reasons — serious foul play, violent conduct, denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity (DOGSO), receiving a second yellow card in the same match, spitting or biting, or deliberate handball to deny a goal. VAR can review all straight red card decisions, but not second yellows.

The six reasons for a red card

1. Serious foul play

A challenge that uses excessive force or endangers the safety of an opponent. Two-footed lunges, studs-up tackles, and challenges that go through the player rather than the ball all qualify. The key is that the player is contesting the ball — but doing so in a way that risks injury.

See serious foul play.

2. Violent conduct

A deliberate act of violence away from a challenge for the ball — an off-the-ball strike, an elbow, a headbutt, kicking out at an opponent. Unlike serious foul play, there is no contest for the ball; the player has chosen to use force on another person.

See violent conduct.

3. DOGSO — Denying an Obvious Goal-Scoring Opportunity

A defender denies a clear chance through a foul or handball outside the penalty area. The classic case: the last defender pulls down a striker through on goal. Inside the penalty area the calculation is different — if the foul was a genuine attempt to play the ball, the punishment is downgraded from red to yellow because the penalty itself restores the chance.

See DOGSO and DOGSO vs SPA.

4. Second yellow card

Two cautionable offences in the same match. The two yellows can be for completely unrelated reasons — a tactical foul plus a late tackle, or dissent plus shirt-pulling. The result is the same: a second yellow is shown, immediately followed by red. VAR cannot review or overturn second yellows.

See second yellow vs straight red.

5. Spitting or biting

An automatic red regardless of context. The act itself is the offence; there is no judgment about force or intent. Suspensions are typically long — often six matches or more.

6. Deliberate handball to deny a goal

If a player deliberately handles the ball to stop it crossing the line, or to prevent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity that handball was the only way to stop, the punishment is red. The classic example is a defender on the line punching the ball away.

See handball edge cases.

Can VAR review a red card?

Yes — straight red card incidents are one of the four reviewable categories. VAR can recommend the referee look at the screen if a sending-off is missed or wrongly given. Second yellows are not reviewable, even if the second offence looks soft on replay.

See VAR reviewable incidents.

What happens after a red card?

The team plays with ten players for the rest of the match. The sent-off player cannot be replaced, and the team's substitution allowance is unchanged. The player is suspended for at least the next match, with longer bans for violent conduct, serious foul play, and spitting.

See what happens after a red card.