What Happens if a Team Gets 3 Red Cards?
If a football team receives 3 red cards in a match, they are in deep trouble, but the game does not automatically end at that point. As a passionate football fanatic, I‘ve analyzed some of the wildest and most extreme examples of teams attempting to play shorthanded to explain what goes down when the red card count hits 3.
The Consequences Begin Stacking Up
I‘ve seen my fair share of shocking send-offs over the years. But nothing compares to the dread of watching your side go down to 9 men, let alone 8 or worse…
Getting that third red means losing another key player, severely hampering tactics and substitutes. And most likely, multiple match bans looming for those dismissed. Here‘s a breakdown:
| Red Card Offense | Typical Ban |
|---|---|
| Dissent | 2 matches |
| Professional Foul | 1 match |
| Violent Conduct | 3 matches |
Stack 3 of those bans for 3 players, and you could be without some starting XI stalwarts for nearly half a dozen games!
Would the Game Actually End at 3 Reds?
A common misconception is that the match would be abandoned then and there after the third red. But the critical cutoff is actually 7 players – meaning you could theoretically have up to 4 reds shown before forfeiting.
According to FIFA‘s laws, "a match is abandoned if there are fewer than seven players in either team." The scoreline up to that stoppage would in most cases stand as the final result.
That said, losing an entire starting outfield unit would all but seal your fate anyway…
Infamous Matches That Pushed the Limits
Some all-out brawls live on in legend for testing the upper limits of red card madness:
| Match | Red Cards | Players Remaining | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Battle of Nuremberg" 2006 World Cup | 4 total | Portugal 1-0 Netherlands | Portugal won despite 2 reds |
| Bristol Rovers vs Wigan Athletic 1997 | 5 total in 1st half! | Wigan won 3-2 with 6 players | One of English football‘s wildest matches |
| Racing Club vs Boca Juniors 2019 | 10 total reds at final whistle | Racing prevailed 2-1 in extra time | A world record between top division clubs! |
As those matches show, coming back to win with 8 or 9 is difficult…but not impossible with the right amount of grit, defensive resolve, and counterattacking.
What Actually Causes a Match to End Early?
In today‘s game, sports science, injury prevention, and squad depth should prevent most teams from ever having fewer than 7 eligible players.
Plus, referees will likely err on the side of caution and call off matches before hitting that disastrous point of no return.
But in lower league and youth football, sometimes games do get abandoned when mass injuries, illnesses, or disciplinary issues snowball. I once covered a local amateur derby called after just 60 minutes due to having only 5 players left after 2 reds and 3 injuries!
So while extremely rare in top flight football, don‘t take it as gospel that the referee will let cutting down to 6 or even 5 slide…
Attempting a Comeback with 8 Men
Even if you avoid prematurely ending the match, coming back from 3 reds to salvage even a draw seems an almost insurmountable challenge.
Or so conventional wisdom would have you believe!
In reality, world football has seen some astonishing comebacks by severely depleted teams:
- In a 2013 match, 10-man Barcelona overturned a 2-0 first leg deficit to defeat AC Milan 4-0 down a man at home for nearly 80 minutes!
- A famous 1984 English lower league cup clash saw York City stun Arsenal 2-1 in extra time despite 3 red cards dropping them to 8 men.
- Sabella XV, an Argentine amateur side, recovered from 5 red cards in 2019 to equalize three times before completing a 7-5 victory.
So never say never! With the right mindset, tactics, and supporters behind you, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat can show what football is truly all about.
The next time you watch one of your club‘s players see red, keep the faith alive rather than conceding defeat. A few red cards makes for the greatest of comebacks!
