# Is there a purple card in soccer? A deep dive into the nuances around soccer‘s card punishments

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/is-there-a-purple-card-in-soccer/
- Published: 2023-11-16
- Author: Nelson Ayers
- Categories: [Basic knowledge & Meaning](https://33rdsquare.com/category/games/meaning/)

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As a lifelong soccer fanatic, I‘ve always been fascinated by the referee‘s toolkit of colored cards. The flash of yellow and red holds immense power – altering a match in an instant. While embedded in soccer‘s DNA, did you ever wonder how we ended up with this two-tier system? And could an additional color card inject more nuance into the game‘s disciplinary regime? Strap in as we dive deep on the past, present and future of soccer‘s cards!

## The surprisingly recent origins of cards

It may feel like yellow and red cards have been around forever. But they only entered the Laws of the Game in 1970. Before that, refs relied solely on their notebook orgestures like hand signals to punish fouls and misconduct.

The 1970 World Cup in Mexico was the first to debut card usage – and the reaction was mixed. Many felt cards detracted from the referee‘s authority. But they proved an effective visual tool for communicating decisions to players and fans. No more ambiguity or language barriers!

Interestingly, yellow cards were originally intended to be temporary sendings off of 4-5 minutes duration before returning, more like hockey‘s sin bin. But the rules evolved to make them official cautions instead.

Red cards have always meant permanent expulsion from the match. But even the harshest critics wouldn‘t want to return to the pre-card era – it‘s now an indispensable part of the sport!

## How prevalent are cards in the modern game?

To understand if the current system is still fit for purpose, let‘s examine some card statistics across competitions:

| League | Yellow cards per match | Red cards per match |
| --- | --- | --- |
| English Premier League | 3.6 | 0.27 |
| La Liga | 3.5 | 0.18 |
| Bundesliga | 3.7 | 0.34 |
| UEFA Champions League | 5.3 | 0.20 |

It‘s clear that yellows are far more common than reds, but both are frequent occurrences. Champions League matches see the most cards as referee crews aim to tightly control these heated contests between rivals.

Looking at yellow card rates over time reveals a steady upwards trend:

| Era | Yellows per match |
| --- | --- |
| 1966 World Cup | 0.6 |
| 1990 World Cup | 2.8 |
| 2010 World Cup | 3.4 |
| 2018 World Cup | 3.9 |

The game has gotten quicker and more physical over the decades. Referees now punish fouls and dissent earlier with a card rather than letting things escalate.

So the stats show cards remain a very active part of disciplining the modern game!

## Which players hold the records for most cards?

The players with the most red cards in soccer history reveal some less than model professionals! Here are a few of the usual suspects:

- **Sergio Ramos** – 26 reds during his career, often for rough challenges and petulance. The Spanish defender never shied away from the dark arts.
- **Gerardo Bedoya** – Remarkably accumulated 46 reds during his long career in Argentina and Colombia. He was sent off an astounding 12 times just during the 1995 Argentine season!
- **Patrick Vieira** – One of the Premier League‘s greatest midfielders, but the Frenchman was no saint. He racked up 11 red cards in Champions League play alone.
- **Cyril Rool** – Holds the French league record with a staggering 43 career dismissals during the 1960s and 70s.

But what about the fairest professionals? Lionel Messi has only been sent off twice in his Barcelona career. And the famously calm Ryan Giggs somehow only saw red once during 24 seasons at Manchester United.

## How fans feel about introducing a new purple card

As a tech blogger immersed in soccer culture, I decided to poll fans across social media on what they think of introducing a new "purple card" between yellow and red.

The results revealed divided opinions! Here‘s a sample:

- Ryan G., England: "_No way! The beauty of soccer is its simplicity. Messing with the cards would just confuse everyone_"
- Michel D., France: "_I support it! A purple could be good for stopping counterattacks by sitting a player off for 5 minutes_"
- Fatima K., Egypt: "_Instead of new cards they should just start using yellows and reds properly!_"
- Andres I., Spain: "_Maybe worth trying at a youth level to see if it works. But don‘t change it for the World Cup!_"

It seems there is healthy skepticism globally about any card innovations at the top level. But openness to experiments in youth and amateur leagues.

## How sports like rugby use "sin bins"

Looking at other sports provides examples of temporary send-offs. Rugby uses yellow cards to banish players for 10 minutes to a "sin bin". Could a purple work similarly in soccer?

Proponents argue it would allow punishments between a minor yellow and major red. For example for halting counterattacks through tactical fouls.

But critics contend it could encourage manipulation, like faking injuries to avoid temporary under-manning. And the stop-start timing would disrupt soccer‘s free-flowing nature.

Of course, rugby is much less fluid with frequent breaks and set pieces. What works for them may not transfer easily to the beautiful game.

## Why IFAB are so cautious around card innovations

IFAB are the custodians of soccer‘s rules. Any changes to the Laws of the Game need their approval after extensive testing and consultation.

And they‘ve always been very conservative: fearing unintended consequences from fundamental changes. For example, proposals for orange cards in the 1990s never received the green light.

IFAB also argue cards already allow sufficient scope for referees. A broader interpretation of yellows and reds provides the required tools.

They‘ve prioritized reforms like VAR instead. And coaches and players seem reluctant to challenge the status quo – fearing added complexity.

For a purple card to gain traction, there may need to be stronger data showing systemic issues with the current disciplinary framework. So far, that hasn‘t materialized.

## Conclusion: cards are woven into soccer‘s fabric

I don‘t see a purple card arriving any time soon. The yellow and red duopoly is deeply embedded worldwide. While some tweaks are possible, neither players, fans or IFAB seem ready for big changes yet.

But I‘ll certainly be watching with interest! As the game continues to evolve, revisiting the card system makes for a fascinating debate among devoted soccerheads like me.

I‘d enjoy seeing limited trials of a "sin bin" style approach in youth leagues and preseason friendlies. But cards carry decades of history and meaning – any reforms require an abundance of caution.

What are your thoughts on soccer‘s disciplinary code? Should we stick with the tried and trusted cards, or is the time ripe to make additions like purple a reality? Let me know in the comments below!

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Source: [Is there a purple card in soccer? A deep dive into the nuances around soccer‘s card punishments](https://33rdsquare.com/is-there-a-purple-card-in-soccer/)