2026-27 Red Card Tracker
Football — also known as soccer — is called The beautiful game for good reason: it unites people and provides entertainment through high-pace dribbling, fancy footwork, impeccable athleticism and, at times, spectacular passes and goals. However, the game also includes an ugly side — from reckless or violent tackles, to tactical fouls that deny obvious goalscoring opportunities, to blatant unsportsmanlike conduct. Such conduct may include classless dissent or verbal abuse toward match officials, fights and, most unfortunately, discriminatory language.
Such incidents result in either a warning from match officials, a yellow card or — most severely — a red card. The latter may entail a video review by the main referee — courtesy of video assistant referee — prior to the fateful decision. For newcomers to the game, a yellow card serves as a warning and a red card is an immediate expulsion from the match, resulting in a one-match suspension at the very least; the length of these suspensions vary based on the severity of the incident that led to the red card. A player who accumulates two yellow cards in a single match is also expelled and generally serves a one-match suspension. In such cases, the suspension is usually limited to one match because the second yellow is typically the result of a less severe offence than one stemming from a direct red card.
Players receive direct red cards for violent tackles — including those involving studs above the ankle level or two feet while lunging into the player, and deliberate elbow swings or head-butts to any part of the body. Other offences worthy of a red card include verbal abuse to match officials, discriminatory language toward any individual or denying an opponent an obvious goalscoring opportunity.
Although red cards occur sporadically, when accounting for 18 to 20 clubs in a league, they accumulate rather quickly (more often than anyone would like). Moreover, the accumulation of red cards — as well as yellow cards — affects a club’s fair-play score, which in turn influences its reputation and chances of earning fair-play awards, both on an individual level for players and on a collective level for the club.
The 2026-27 Red Card Tracker covers clubs from Europe’s top five leagues:
Bundesliga (Germany);
LaLiga (Spain);
Ligue 1 (France);*
Premier League (EPL);** and
Serie A (Italy).
Red Cards Accumulated by League
Among the top five European leagues LaLiga clubs have collectively accumulated eight red cards, the highest number among the five leagues (see Figure 1). Conversely, EPL clubs and Serie A clubs have accumulated one red card each, tied for lowest among the five leagues. However, as noted in last season’s tracker, the EPL’s low figure may stem from that league generally being a more physical, and thereby, lenient league when it comes to sanctioning players who committed fouls.
Number of Accumulated Red Cards by League
Notes: The data in this figure account for red cards received in league matches only.
This figure was last updated on September 6, 2026.
Source: Transfermarkt
Red Cards Accumulated by Club
So far, some clubs have proven notably undisciplined. For example, as of September 6, 2026, LaLiga club Rayo Vallecano have already accumulated two red cards (see Figure 2). Last season, Vallecano received eight red cards, the second highest total among clubs from the top five European leagues after league rivals Real Oviedo, which accumulated a whopping 10 red cards. Other clubs that have earned a red card this season include Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund, the EPL’s Aston Villa, LaLiga club Atlético Madrid, and Serie A’s club Atalanta BC.
Number of Accumulated Red Cards by Club
Note: This figure was last updated on September 6, 2026.
Source: Transfermarkt
*Ligue 1 also includes AS Monaco, which are based in the Principality of Monaco.
**The EPL may include a number of clubs from Wales. These clubs, which currently participate in one of the English Football League’s top four divisions, include EFL Championship clubs Swansea City and Wrexham AFC, EFL League One club Cardiff City and EFL League Two club Newport County. That said, there are no Welsh clubs competing in the EPL for the 2025-26 season.
