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It doesn’t take much to get a red card in football - one mistimed tackle, one ill-judged rush of blood or even a series of minor offences can build up to a red crescendo. No one is immune to getting sent off either, be it a small, skilful playmaker or a big, tough-tackling central defender. However, some players just happen to be better at earning the referee’s ire, so much so that their red-dotted disciplinary record is almost impressive.
In big-game situations when tensions are running high, these players are the ones that somehow seem to be much more likely to run afoul of the referee. And when you talk of high-stakes games, it doesn’t get much bigger and better than the UEFA Champions League, widely regarded to be at the pinnacle of club football competition worldwide. That’s why Champions League football offers not just great goals and memorable results, but also its fair share of red cards.
With the 2019-20 Champions League season set to resume this week after a nearly five-month-long suspension due to the global coronavirus pandemic, let’s take a look at the top 5 players who have received the most red cards in the tournament’s history.
Note: For the purposes of this list, the worst offenders have been ranked according to their red card-per minute ratio in case of a tie. As such, the players who have also been sent off thrice in the Champions League but did not make the list are PSG midfielder Marco Verratti, ex-Chelsea frontman Didier Drogba, Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, AS Roma and Inter stalwart Cristian Chivu, veteran AC Milan and AS Roma defender Philippe Mexes, and former Ludogorets midfielder Marcelinho.
Also Read: 12 players who have won the UEFA Champions League with multiple clubs
5. Joel Veltman (3)
Keen followers of the Premier League might have spotted Joel Veltman quite recently as he made the switch from Ajax to Brighton at the end of July.
The Dutch international, who can play at centre-back or right-back, will be plying his trade in England in the 2020-21 season. However, it is with Ajax that he has spent the entirety of his professional career, winning multiple domestic trophies but also getting himself sent off 3 times in just 18 Champions League appearances.
In fact, the most recent of those came earlier this season as he received his marching orders in Ajax’s dramatic 4-4 draw against Chelsea. Still only 28, Veltman has more than enough time to improve (or worsen, depending on how you look at it) his disciplinary record in Europe.
4. Vedat Inceefe (3)
A tough-tackling centre-back, Vedat Inceefe’s European adventures were with the infamously intimidating Galatasary side, for whom he turned out 12 times in the Champions League between 1997 and 2003.
Although he is a five-time Turkish champion, Inceefe’s Champions League career was not as distinguished as he got himself sent off 3 times in those 12 appearances, with his side only progressing out of the group stage once.
3. Sergio Ramos (4)
Although he is one of the most decorated footballers in world football, Sergio Ramos also happens to be one of the most commonly entered names in the referee’s notebook.
Like Joel Veltman, he received his most recent sending-off in this season’s edition of the UEFA Champions League after getting booked twice in the first leg of their tie against Manchester City. Given his notoriously physical and antagonistic style of play, you would be forgiven for thinking that his tally would be much higher than 4 in 124 appearances.
That red card put him level with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edgar Davids on 4 red cards in the UEFA Champions League, with the Real Madrid skipper occupying third place solely by virtue of the number of minutes he has played in the tournament.
However, he remains in pole position to claim that dubious distinction outright. He could even move up from third in the all-time red card standings, as the red against Manchester City marked his 26th career dismissal, just one behind second-placed Cyril Rool. First place on that illustrious list remains a distant dream, however, as he would have to commit a huge number of transgressions to catch up to Gerardo Bedoya on 46.
2. Zlatan Ibrahimovic (4)
Although not plying his trade in the UEFA Champions League currently, Zlatan Ibrahimovic shows no signs of stopping even at the age of 38. His former teams read like a who’s who of European footballing royalty, including the likes of Manchester United, PSG, Barcelona, Ajax, and the Italian triumvirate of Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter.
The striker’s fiery temper earned him 4 red cards in 120 appearances, a figure that might still go up before he hangs up his boots. These dismissals include one for Juventus against Real Madrid, one for Inter against Bayern and two for PSG against Chelsea and Valencia.
1. Edgar Davids (4)
At first glance, Edgar Davids might seem an unlikely name to be atop a list of players who have received the most red cards in Champions League history. However, when you consider the fact that the combative midfielder earned the nickname ‘Pitbull’ for his ability to terrorise opposition players, it becomes a little clearer.
It makes even more sense when you find out that Davids never received a straight red in his 74 Champions League appearances for Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, or Ajax - all 4 of his sendings-off were for 2 yellow cards.
