Three reds were shown in the World Cup 2026 opener on Thursday as Mexico beat South Africa 2-0.
South Africa’s Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane were sent off, and then Mexico’s Cesar Montes was dismissed in stoppage time.
Maybe we had been spoiled. The World Cups in Russia and Qatar both saw just four red cards in the whole tournament. The 2026 tournament has nearly matched that already.
It had been 20 years since three players were sent off in one match, in the 2006 finals when 28 players saw red.
That was a remarkable tournament which saw three players dismissed in three separate games, and the all-time record of four reds in Portugal v Netherlands.
Are we about to go back to those days? Will the 2026 World Cup be remembered for red cards being handed out like confetti?
In 2017, Pierluigi Collina was appointed as Fifa’s new head of referees and it heralded a very different era.
Collina often takes about how decisions should serve as justice - for both teams.
Players should stay on the field unless they have done something which truly deserves a red card.
For instance, under his stewardship the law around denying a goalscoring opportunity (Dogso) when a penalty has been awarded have been hugely relaxed. It is now very difficult to get a red card.
So, it should be no surprise that the 2018 and 2022 World Cups saw just the four red cards after he took over.
Refereeing at the start of a tournament often seem to sets the tone. Should we be drawing any conclusions from this match?
In his pre-tournament briefing, the Italian was focused on timewasting and general player behaviour.
There was no talk of a hard stands which should result in a huge spike in red cards.
Sometimes red cards are simply justified. Well, most of them anyway.
Sithole’s dismissal for fouling Brian Gutierrez was a simple decision for referee Wilton Sampaio.
The Mexico attacking midfielder was through on goal. Sithole may not have meant to bring him down, but he did. There was no doubt the South African had denied his opponent a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The second dismissal was much more controversial, given to Zwane on a video assistant referee review for violent conduct.
Zwane tussled with Roberto Alvarado, with the Mexican going to ground holding his head.
It looked like a coming together off the ball, but the referee was sent to the pitchside screen by the video assistant referee (VAR), Colombia’s Nicolas Gallo.
As Sampaio was shown the replays at the monitor it was difficult to make out what had happened.
Was there really a hand to the head? And if so, was it accidental or did he swing the arm?
When assessing violent conduct, the VARs are told to look for a clenched fist as a sign of aggression. This does not have to be present, but it is an indicator.
Zwane appeared to connect with an open hand to the side of Alvarado’s head, not with a closed hand.
It looks exceptionally harsh, and not the kind of clear and obvious decision VAR as introduced for.
Or maybe this is exactly the kind of thing Collina had told his referees and VARs to look out for, falling into the category of poor player behaviour.
Collina has brought in red cards for players who cover their mouths in confrontations, and those who leave the field in protest at a decision. He also wants goals disallowed for blocking on set-pieces.
Perhaps the actions of Zwane fall into this sort of category, a way for Collina to try to reduce the dark arts within the game.
Source:
BBC
