Nasty tackles often attract red cards in football
GhanaWeb Feature by Benjamin Sackey
Red cards in football have helped protect players from dangerous tackles that could ruin their careers and potentially cause severe damage to their health.
As players battle for laurels in the game, they are sometimes forced to make aggressive tackles to prevent their opponents from scoring or winning the ball.
There are moments where players are sent off for offensive fouls, accumulated yellow cards, or fighting their opponents out of anger and frustrations.
This GhanaWeb Sports feature throws a spotlight on some of the most notable nasty red cards in football history.
Gabriel Martinelli
In April 2022, Arsenal winger Gabriel Martinelli was sent off against Wolves after receiving two yellow cards in the space of a few seconds.
The Brazilian was given his marching orders in the 69th minute after losing possession and trying to prevent Daniel Podence from taking a quick throw-in before barging into Chiquinho.
As advantage was given for the first offense, Martinelli didn't receive either of his bookings until he went on Chiquinho, prompting the referee to send him off.
10. Gabriel Martinelli was shown 2 yellow cards in 7 seconds.
— LEMON🍋💦 (@Lemonbriz) August 19, 2025
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Robin van Persie received one of the harshest red cards in recent football history while playing for Arsenal against Barcelona in the Champions League in March 2011.
The Gunners went into the 2010-11 second-leg tie 2-1 up on aggregate after sealing a famous victory at the Emirates Stadium three weeks earlier.
Van Persie found himself through on goal with only Victor Valdes to beat but missed the target with his weaker right foot. Referee Massimo Busacca then stunned the Dutchman by flashing a second yellow card, followed by a red, in his direction.
Van Persie was penalized for shooting after Busacca had blown his whistle for an off-side and subsequently sent him off.
Barca fraud is relentless
— ʟᴀ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴍᴀ ₁₀ (@LaDecima10_) August 18, 2025
How on earth is this a Red card for Van Persie? pic.twitter.com/q0lr9YsuAY
A mass brawl erupted at Estadio Monumental in the 93rd minute after River Plate star Miguel Borja converted a dramatic penalty against Boca Juniors on May 8, 2023.
Most of the 83,000 in attendance erupted in delight as the ball hit the net, but Boca keeper Sergio Romero did not take kindly to supposedly provocative antics from arch-rivals, and a huge melee resulted in three players from each side being sent off, as well as Boca coach Jorge Almiron.
Agustin Palavecino, Ezequiel Ignacio Centurion, and Elias Gomez of River, and Miguel Merentiel, Ezequiel Fernandez, and Nicolas Valentini of Boca all saw red.
8.There were SEVEN red cards in the Superclásico after River Plate scored a last-minute penalty against Boca Juniors
— LEMON🍋💦 (@Lemonbriz) August 19, 2025
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It was a cynical foul and an obvious sending-off.
7. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer with the most certain red card ever
— LEMON🍋💦 (@Lemonbriz) August 19, 2025
pic.twitter.com/fd4E3k5f6w
9. Compilation of Euro 2020 straight red cards. Some of them were justified, other harsh, other laughable.
— LEMON🍋💦 (@Lemonbriz) August 19, 2025
pic.twitter.com/hZBWf7pGa0
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