Red cards in football are seen as necessity to ensure adherence to the rules. Despite the interruptions, the rules of flagging indiscipline through the yellow and red cards in football keeps the interest of fans going.
Among the two cards issued in the football for several acts of indisciplines that includes bad fouls, diving, fight among the players and violent conduct on the pitch, the red card is the most dangerous one.
For the issuance of these cards, the decisions of match referee is often protested by players, and questioned by fans.
Though referees decisions are normally correct and unquestionable, there have also been instances where decisions have been erroneous sometimes leading to controversies.
In this article, we have picked five weird moments that left no choice for the referee but to send off the player from the pitch by showing the infamous red cards in football.
Most Bizarre Red Cards In Football History
#1) Eden Hazard (Chelsea) vs Swansea, 2013
Another Galactico signing from Florentino Perez, Eden Hazard is always known for his masterful skills on the pitch and not for the temper. However, back in 2013, his tempers flared in an EFL Cup semi-final against Swansea where the fans saw their favorite player losing his cool on the pitch leading to a red card.
Swansea were holding a two-goal advantage against the Blues from the first leg and in the second leg, both the teams were tied in the 80th minute. Not needed much to say, Chelsea were desperate to score the goal and turn around the fortunes.
The real incident happened after this. The ball went for a goal kick. The Belgian superstar jogged fast to hurry the things and get the ball back into the action. However, the player saw that the ball boy was first to the ball and delayed the resumption of the game. Hazard tried to snatch the ball away from the ball boy. However, the disciplined effort from the player went in vain as the teenager dived onto the ground and held the ball firmly.
In an attempt to restart the game, Hazard appeared to kick the ball boy onto his stomach in order to let the ball loose. Moments later, the referee showed the red card to the Big Belgian. Moreover, the incident is considered a shameful act let alone bizarre.
#2) Edin Dzeko (Bosnia) vs Greece, 2016
Probably one of the best players for Wolfsburg and Manchester City, Edin Dzeko is one of the designated players to grace the Premier League where he won the titles with the Cityzens. However, the Bosnian international was sent off for a bizarre reason in an international game.
With just 10 minutes to go in the game against Greece, Bosnia were leading by a scoreline of 1-0 in the World Cup 2018 qualifying match. Dzeko was challenged by the current day Gunner, Sokratis and was down on the pitch. The Greek central defender tried to snatch the ball from the grasp of Dzeko to restart the game.
In order to avoid the quick restart, Bosnia skipper pulled the shorts of the central defender, triggering the mass altercation among the counterparts. With no way to go, the referee awarded the red card for the skipper and sent him off.
The delaying tactics didn’t help the Bosnian international team as Greece found the injury-time equalizer. The player went on to claim that the red card was issued for no reason, but everyone knows what happened in the game.
#3) Javier Mascherano (Argentina) vs Ecuador, 2013
Former Barcelona star defender, Argentinian Javier Mascherano saw the red card for one of the most bizarre reasons ever in the game. The reason was that the player kicked the medic who was carrying him off the pitch.
In a World Cup qualification game against Ecuador, Argentina were tied with the opposition by a scoreline of 1-1. The whole Argentina team were putting the efforts to snatch the winner and Mascherano was no exemption from it. However, in the final minutes of the game, the central defender was down on the pitch after taking a knock.
(Credits: YouTube)
It was decided that La Albicieste had to go off the pitch for the treatment to his knock. The medical team rushed towards the pitch and placed the Argentina international on the cart. Apparently, one of the players on the pitch seemed to have thrown the water on the player which left the defender red-faced. The player decided to show his temper on the medic and kicked the shoulder of the medic with his left foot.
Nothing much to avail, the referee sent him off for the disgusting action on the pitch. However, post-match, the player said that he tried to catch the attention of the medic who was driving the cart too fast which would have made the player fall off it. No matter, a strange dismissal indeed.
#4) David Abraham (Frankfurt) vs Freiberg, 2019
In one of the recent incidents of the red card, this one will surely remain the minds of the fans for a long time. The red card not only sent the player off in the dying moments of the game but also suspended Abraham for seven weeks.
(Credits: YouTube)
Eintracht Frankfurt were a goal behind Freiburg in the Bundesliga game. In the added injury time, Frankfurt were trying to salvage a point. The ball went outside the pitch and Freiburg’s coach had the ball. In an attempt to take the ball, David Abraham bowled the coach which triggered the clash among the two teams on the field.
Freiburg’s players and coaches chased down Abraham and when everything got settled, Eintracht Frankfurt player David Abraham was sent off. Also, the other player, Vincenzo Grifo was also sent off for triggering the clash on the pitch.
#5) Edinson Cavani (PSG) vs Lens, 2014
Most of you have observed certain special celebrations of the players on the pitch. Among those, everyone admires Nani’s backflip, Ronaldo’s Sii and Mbappe’s cross hands across his chest. However, there are times when the celebration can land the player into the hot soup. Out of the lot, it was Edinson Cavani who was sent off for his goal celebration.
Against Lens in a Ligue 1 game, the table topper Paris St Germain were leading by a scoreline of 2-1. In the early minutes of the second half, Jean Phillippe Gbamin brought down Cavani in the box. The referee in charge pointed to the spot and the Uruguayan striker converted the penalty with ease. After doubling the lead, the forward performed his sniper-rifle celebration.
Irritated by the celebration, the referee booked him and issued the yellow card for the player. However, when Cavani tried to reconcile the referee, the referee issued the second yellow and sent the player off. However, PSG went on to win the game where only 19 players were on the pitch out of 22 at full time.
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