The rules of soccer are easy: don't touch the ball with your hands (unless your the goalie), try to score in the correct goal, don't be offsides, and don't do anything stupid that will get a yellow or red card issued to you.
Despite the easy rules, cards will be issued during games for foul language, fighting, unsportsmanlike conduct, and bad tackles. While I do not condone players acting in a way that could injure another player, I do laugh at the situation players will put themselves in that will result in a card.
These are my top five carded moments in soccer.
5. Is He A Rag Doll?
I'm not sure where this footage is from, but this yellow card came to be when a player lifted the opposing team's player off the ground like a rag doll. The actually video is pretty funny since the guy just face plants onto the field again. You can watch this on the link below.
4. The Ref Go Fouled!
This incident happened over in England, two players went after the ball and (accidentally I'm sure) fouled the innocent Ref who was just standing there. While laying on the ground, seeking medical attention, the Ref pulls out the red card and shows it to one of the players involved. You can watch the hilarity below.
Also I must note that the players did not actually get booked for this incident. The Ref was attempting to make the moment a little more lighthearted.
3. Turkish Player Gives Referee a Red Card
This one is a little complicated. In a Turkish Super Lig match, a player from Trabzonspor's team gets a red card for a foul in the box (which gives the other team a penalty shot). The Trabzonspor players are, obviously, enraged at the call, ganging up on the referee, earning another red card. Then the referee drops his red card at which point player Salih Dursun, pick up the card and shows it to the referee. This then earns him his red card. You can watch it all with the link below, but I do think it deserves to be in the top three.
2. Clint Dempsey had a moment with the Ref's property. Uh-oh!
In Dempsey's defense, this was not the best game. The Sounders were already down two players against the Portland Timbers in the US Open Cup match when the Ref had just sent another Sounders player off the field with a red card. Dempsey, the hot head that he is, ripped up the Ref's book, earning himself a red card and a two year or six game suspension (whichever is longest) from the US Open Cup. Of all the things he could have done, Dempsey ripped up a book. A book. For a red card. Enough said. You can watch it all below, the action begins at 57 seconds in.
1. Cecs Fabregas, you have good aim!
Chealsea FC had already won the Premier League that year and I guess Fabregas got bored when the two teams are arguing with the Ref over an incident that just took place. He places the ball down and sends it sailing towards a crowd of the other team, striking one player directly on the head. You have to admit it was a beautiful shot. However, he (rightfully) earned himself a red card. The action begins at around the 1 minute mark in the video below.
Do you have a favorite funny red card moment that didn't make this list? Comment and tell me what it is! I'd love to watch it!