A red card in soccer is one of the most serious punishments a referee can issue, sending a player off and forcing their team to continue short-handed. But what if multiple red cards are issued in a game? Could every player technically be sent off? And what happens if a team runs out of players?

Here’s everything you need to know about red cards, minimum player requirements, and how the game continues when things get out of control.

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Can Every Player on a Team Be Red Carded?

In theory, yes — every player on the field can receive a red card if each commits a red card offense. There is no limit to the number of red cards a referee can issue during a game.

However, a match cannot continue if either team has fewer than seven players on the field. That means:

• If a team is reduced to six players or fewer, the referee must abandon the match.
• This rule applies whether players are sent off via straight red cards or a second yellow card.
• The same applies to both the starting eleven and substitutes, although red cards for substitutes or coaches don’t reduce the number of players on the field.

So while technically every player could be red carded, the game would end once one side is left with too few to continue.

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What Happens After a Red Card?

When a player is shown a red card:

• They are immediately removed from the match and cannot be replaced.
• Their team plays with one fewer player for the remainder of the game.
• The player will usually be suspended for at least one additional game, depending on the severity of the offense and the competition rules.

In leagues and tournaments, suspensions can be extended if the red card was for violent conduct, abusive language, or extremely reckless behavior.

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What If Both Teams Have Players Sent Off?

If both teams receive red cards, they continue to play at a numerical disadvantage. For example, if one player from each team is sent off, both teams play with ten players. This continues unless either team falls below the seven-player threshold.

Games can get chaotic, but as long as both sides maintain at least seven players on the field, the match continues.

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Have Games Ever Been Abandoned Due to Too Many Red Cards?

Yes, but it’s extremely rare.

One of the most extreme examples occurred in a lower-division match in South America, where more than a dozen players were sent off. In professional leagues, referees are trained to manage the game in a way that avoids complete breakdowns in discipline, but it can happen when matches escalate out of control.

Still, most games never come close to the point of abandonment. Red cards are used to restore order — not to empty the field.

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Can Coaches or Substitutes Be Red Carded?

Yes, but these red cards do not reduce the number of players on the field.

A red card to a coach, trainer, or substitute means that individual must leave the technical area and may face suspension. The team still retains its full playing squad, unless a substitute was preparing to enter the match and is ejected before doing so.

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What’s the Minimum Number of Players Needed to Continue a Match?

According to FIFA's Laws of the Game, seven players is the absolute minimum required on the field for a team to continue playing. If a team falls below this number due to red cards, injuries, or any other reason:

• The referee must abandon the match.
• The result may be declared final, void, or subject to further ruling by the competition authority.

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Final Thoughts

While it’s rare to see more than a couple of red cards in one match, referees have the authority to send off as many players as necessary to enforce the rules and protect the flow and safety of the game. In extreme cases, yes — every player could technically be red carded, but the match would not continue past a certain point.

Understanding how red cards affect team numbers and when a game must be abandoned helps put these rare but dramatic moments into context.