In football, players and managers are expected to follow certain rules and regulations to maintain discipline and fair play during the matches. Cards are used by referees as a disciplinary measure to penalize players for misconduct or unruly behaviour on the pitch. Referees use yellow and red cards to penalize the players and it is important to understand the meaning of each card and their significance.
What are penalty cards in football?
Penalty cards are used by match officials to penalize players for various misconduct or unsportsmanlike conduct. In football, there are two main types of penalty cards – yellow and red.
What does Yellow card means in football ?
A yellow card is shown to a player when he’s violated the rules of the game and receives a warning. Two yellow cards automatically lead to a red card. A warning is issued by the referee as a caution and the player will continue to play the match. However, two successive yellow cards in the same game lead to dismissal from the field.
What does Red card means in football ?
A red card in football stands for sending off which is the harshest penalty in the game. The player gets ejected and cannot be replaced, leaving their team undermanned for the remainder of the game. Furthermore, the concerned player remains suspended for the next game.
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Who has the most red cards in football history?
Gerardo Bedoya, a former Colombian defensive midfielder is the dirtiest player in football history, with 46 red cards.
| Name | Red cards |
| Gerardo Bedoya | 46 |
| Sergio Ramos | 29 |
| Pablo Alfaro | 27 |
| Cyril Rool | 27 |
| Alexis Ruano Delgado | 22 |
| Paolo Montero | 21 |
| Rafael Marquez | 21 |
| Felipe Melo | 20 |
| Matteo Contini | 20 |
| Fernando Amorebieta | 19 |
What is a white card in football?
The white card, also known as the ‘fair play card’ is shown to recognize and encourage fair play. The move has been initiated to encourage teams to act in a sporting manner and is simply used to ‘improve ethical value in the sport’.
The first-ever usage of the white card was used in a top-flight game between Sporting Lisbon and Benfica, in which Benfica won 5-0. The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) has implemented the white card ruling across all domestic competitions, including Liga Portugal.
Who has the most yellow cards in football history?
Sergio Ramos has the most number of yellow cards in the 21st century.
| Name | Red cards |
| Sergio Ramos | 259 |
| Gerardo Torrado | 228 |
| Dani Alves | 210 |
| Xabi Alonso | 197 |
| Daniele Conti | 190 |
| Gabi | 189 |
| Raul Garcia | 185 |
| David Albelda | 183 |
| Giampiero Pinzi | 182 |
| Emre Belozoglu | 181 |