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Sometimes, football can be a rough sport. The players involved often get too passionate during the game and may end up hurting their opponents.
The need for regulation of such offences was answered by FIFA when the introduction of the yellow and red cards for 1970 FIFA World Cup. A yellow card is often used as a caution for players with unsporting behaviour, minor infringement of laws or other mid-level offences.
However, a red card is issued for serious foul play, violence, spitting, usage of abusive languages and after receiving two yellow cards in the same game. A goalkeeper can receive a red card for handling the ball outside the penalty box. A red card may usually render the player unavailable for the next match.
Most often, defenders and defensive midfielders are more prone to receive these cards, since they have to get the ball from the opponent attackers.
However, goalkeepers have also received their fair share of red cards. Mostly, goalkeepers receive red cards for reckless tackles during one-on-one situations or if they handle the ball outside the box.
In this list, we take a look at five of the most unforgettable goalkeeper red cards in football. So without further adieu, let us get started.
#5. Oliver Kahn - Handling the ball
Let us kick the list off with a legendary name. Football fans are not new to the name Oliver Kahn. The legendary goalkeeper was named as the best Bundesliga goalkeeper 7 times and won the golden ball in 2002 FIFA World Cup. The Titan was known for his aggressive and energetic attitude on the field.
While most of the goalkeepers handle the ball for protecting the goal, the German legend used his gloves for an attacking move. In the 2000-01 season, in a match against Hansa Rostock, Bayern Munich was trailing 2-3. In the 90th minute, Bayern received a corner kick and Kahn advanced to the opposing goalpost. Kahn simply used his hands to push the ball into the back of the net. The referee quite rightly awarded Kahn a red card thereafter.
#4. Gianluca Pagliuca
During the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Italy's Gianluca Pagliuca did not receive a single chance to prove his worth at the grand stage. However, in the next edition of the tournament in 1994, Pagliuca was their first-choice goalkeeper.
After losing to the Republic of Ireland in their first match, Italy faced the threat of an early elimination in their next fixture. Hence it was imperative for them to not lose against Norway in order to secure a berth in the Round of 16.
However, in the 21st minute, Pagliuca handled the ball outside the box after being head-to-head against Norway's Oyvind Leonhardsen. Hellmut Krug, the referee, showed a straight red to the keeper.
Even though their keeper was red carded, Italy somehow managed to win the match and went on to reach the final of the tournament.
In the game, Pagliuca became the first-ever goalkeeper to save a penalty in a shootout in the final of a World Cup when he denied Brazil's Marcio Santos his goal.
#3. Esteban Alvarado - Attacking a fan
Fans invading a football pitch during games is a common sight in the sport. They might try getting on the pitch to impress their friends, show off, or even interact with their favourite footballers. Most of the times, the players humour these fans for a few seconds, before they are hoarded off the pitch.
In this case, however, the fan who invaded the pitch was not greeted well. Esteban Alvarado joined AZ Alkmaar in the 2010 summer transfer window. During a KNVB cup match between Ajax Amsterdam and AZ Alkmaar on December 2011, a drunk fan by the name of Wesley Van W entered the pitch during the late first half of the play.
The fan proceeded to attack Esteban but slipped to the ground. Furious at this, Alvarado kicked the fan multiple times, causing the referee to pull out a red card. The incident was so brutal that Alkmaar manager ordered the players to walk off the pitch as a sign of protest.
KNVB then rescinded the red card and asked the match to be replayed behind closed doors. The infamous fan was banned for the lifetime by Ajax for all their home matches.
#2. Raïs M'Bolhi
Raïs M'Bolhi impressed the viewers during the 2010 World Cup match between Algeria and England. However, he is in this list for an entirely different reason, for an incident that happened during a match between CSKA Sofia and Levski Sofia.
M'Bolhi was stalling time during the injury time of the match. His team, CSKA Sofia, were leading 1-0 when the clock was at 90 minutes + 4 during the 5-minute injury time. M'Bolhi successfully caught a failed attack from Levski and in the process, laid down the ground.
Frustrated by the stalling attempt, Levski Sofia's Winger Larsen Toure kicked M'Bolhi as he was holding on to the ball. M'Bolhi reacted to this violently by throwing the ball at full force to the back of the
Winger's head. The referee was quick to award the goalkeeper his red card. After a while, Toure was also given the marching orders.
#1. Gianluigi Buffon
The 2018 UCL final match between Juventus and Real Madrid saw many controversies. After losing the home match 0-3 to Real Madrid, Juventus had a tough task ahead of them at Santiago Bernabeu. They had to have at least a three-goal lead to keep themselves alive in the competition.
In the second minute of the match, Mario Mandzukic scored for Juventus. The Croatian lifted the lead to two goals after securing his second strike at the 37th minute.
The French midfielder Blaise Matuidi extended the lead to three goals at the 61st minute - giving Juventus the breath of fresh hope.
However, Juventus' wonderful run came to an abrupt halt during the injury time of the second half. The referee, Michael Oliver, awarded Madrid a penalty kick after ruling Mehdi Benatia's challenge on Lucas Vasquez unfair. Gianluigi Buffon was furious at this and angrily protested against this decision.
The referee had no hesitation to give the Italian veteran a red card after the incident. Buffon left the field angrily, etching a sad image in the minds of fans, in what was his final UCL game for Juventus.
