The Theoretical Limit of Red Cards

When it comes to football games, the question of how many red cards a referee can show is quite interesting.

In theory, there’s no upper limit on the number of red cards. You might think a referee could hand out 22 red cards and send all the players off.

However, football rules state clearly that if a team has fewer than 7 players on the pitch, the game must end immediately. So, a single team can get at most 4 red cards. Otherwise, the game will be stopped. In total, the theoretical maximum for both teams combined is 8 red cards. After that, the referee can’t show more.

An Unbelievable Incident in History

Has there ever been a game with an extremely high number of red cards?

In a 2008 Argentine league match, the referee astonishingly showed 36 red cards. The reason was that players, substitutes, and even staff got involved in a big conflict.

Although this number seems outrageous, it was an extreme case under special circumstances.

Can a Referee Show Red Cards Indefinitely?

Strictly speaking, there are restrictions on the number of red cards for players on the pitch.

But for those off the pitch, there’s no such limit. If the entire substitute bench rushes onto the field to cause trouble, the referee can keep showing red cards. However, the game will still end prematurely.