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Red cards
Clear Line

Red cards

Red cards are most commonly issued for four types of incidents: denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity, serious foul play, violent conduct and second yellow cards. We examine what referees must consider in their decision-making, and where VAR should intervene if required.
Overview Goal-scoring opportunity Serious foul play Violent conduct Second yellow Overview Goal-scoring opportunity Serious foul play Violent conduct Second yellow

Serious foul play

Serious foul play covers challenges that endanger the safety of an opponent.

  • VAR should recommend a red card where the available footage clearly shows that the player used excessive force or endangered an opponent’s safety.
  • VAR should recommend cancelling a red card where the referee has incorrectly assessed the point of impact, the nature of the contact, the force used or the manner of the challenge.
  • VAR should not intervene if the incident falls within the referee’s discretionary judgment on whether the force used was excessive.

The rationale

Serious foul play and a normal tough challenge sit on the same continuum with the dividing line determined by the risk to the opponent. The referee must ask whether a challenge endangered the safety of another player. The speed and direction of the challenge, the point of contact and the use of studs must all be taken into consideration.

What referees consider when making a decision

  • What was the intensity of the challenge (speed, force, etc.)?
  • Was excessive force used, or was an opponent’s safety endangered?
  • What were the actions and movement of the player making the challenge (running, jumping, lunging…)?
  • What was the player’s intent?
  • What was the possibility of playing the ball?
  • What was the direction of the challenge (from the front, side or rear)?
  • Were the studs used?
  • What was the point of contact (foot, ankle, leg, Achilles tendon, knee, face, head, etc)?
  • What was the potential consequence of the contact (risk and potential severity of injury, endangering the safety of the opponent, etc)?

✅ When VAR should recommend a red card

A player clearly endangers the safety of the opponent by:

  • stepping on an opponent's Achilles tendon, calf, knee, or leg with excessive force. (Video 1)
  • making a challenge or tackle with the studs directed towards an opponent's leg using excessive force. (Video 2)
  • making a "scissors" challenge that endangers the safety of an opponent. (Video 3)
  • using the arm as a “weapon” when challenging for the ball, i.e. striking an opponent in the head or face with the elbow, where there is a clear forward and/or backward movement intended to make forceful contact. (Video 4)
  • making a high challenge with force and intensity, such as raising the foot or leg and striking an opponent in the chest, torso, neck, or head. (Video 5)

Video 1 – Serious foul play: While challenging for ball, player uses studs to challenge opponent's leg with excessive force

Video 2 – Serious foul play: While challenging for ball, player uses studs to challenge opponent's ankle with excessive force
Video 3 – Serious foul play: Player makes scissors challenge, endangering safety of opponent
Video 4 – Serious foul play: While challenging for ball, player uses elbow to strike opponent with excessive force
Video 5 – Serious foul play: While challenging for ball, player uses studs to kick opponent in chest with excessive force

✅ When VAR should recommend cancelling a red card

The referee incorrectly assesses the point of impact, nature of contact, force used or manner of the challenge. Examples include:

  • a player steps on the opponent’s foot, but the referee incorrectly interprets the contact as being on a more vulnerable area, such as the Achilles tendon, calf or ankle. (Video 6)
  • a player makes contact with an opponent’s chest or body, but the referee incorrectly interprets the contact as an elbow strike to the face or head.
  • after playing or challenging for the ball, a player withdraws the leg to avoid contact with the opponent's body or head and any subsequent contact is minimal or does not involve the studs in a manner that endangers the opponent's safety. (Video 7)

Video 6 – Serious foul play: Player steps on opponent's foot with medium intensity

Video 7 – Serious foul play: Player withdraws leg after playing ball

❌ When VAR should not intervene

  • the incident falls within the referee's discretionary judgement regarding whether the force used was excessive or not.

A decision standing after a check is not VAR failing to act: it means that VAR found no clear and obvious error to correct.