Penalty cards are often used in sports to indicate an offense made by a player and soccer is no different. Soccer uses two types of penalty cards, a yellow card, and a red card, however, a third, a white card, has also been added recently.
A red card, like other penalty cards, is used in several different sports. The meanings and implications of the cases are different in different sports. However, it largely indicates a serious offense. It often sees a player being permanently removed from the game.
In soccer, a red card is no different. It is shown by a referee to signify that a player has been ‘sent off’. A player who has been ‘sent off’ can take no further part in the play and is required to move out of the field of play immediately. The player who has been shown a red card cannot be substituted anymore. The team whose player received the red card must continue the game with one player fewer.
What are the rules for a red card in soccer?
A red card is not brandished to any player just like that. It is given to a player who has committed a serious offense. This could be violent conduct, majorly physical or sometimes even verbal. A serious offense also includes the illegal and purposeful obstruction of a goal-scoring opportunity. A red card is also automatically shown to a player who accumulates two yellow cards.
A yellow card offense is a more minor offense when compared to a red card offense. However, when a player commits two yellow card offenses, he receives a red card. So, a yellow card is basically a warning for the player to keep himself in check.
Only players who are on the field, substitutes, substituted players, and coaches on the bench may receive a red card.
In a case where the goalkeeper receives a red card, another on-field player must assume goalkeeping duties or one of the on-field players can be substituted to bring in a second keeper. Sometimes, a team runs out of substitutions before the keeper makes a red card offense, in that case, an outfield player goes in the goal.
Circular red cards are given to players who cannot differentiate color
In the 71st minute of the FA Cup game between Wrexham United and Sheffield United, Sheffield’s Daniel Jebbison was sent off. What intrigued everyone watching was that referee Dream Whitestone pulled out a circular red card instead of the usual rectangle.
Ref chat forum explained on Twitter, “The circular and oval cards were originally introduced to “assist” players who couldn’t differentiate between the colors. It was also to help the referee who wanted to pull out the quick card, the shape telling him which card he was pulling out.”
Circular red card making a return. Are we back in 2005 again? pic.twitter.com/bEGiIIhIMH
— Amos Murphy (@AmosMurphy_) January 29, 2023
Circular red cards are a thing of the past actually. It is something we saw for a short phase in England’s top tier, the Premier League, during the early 2000s.
It was seen in the FA Cup game on January 29, 2023, after a long while. With how helpful it might turn out to be, we probably will see more of it in the coming future.