LaLiga has produced 23 red cards in its first eight rounds of the season, putting it well ahead of Europe’s other leading domestic competitions, according to Marca.
The figure represents an average of 2.87 dismissals per round, meaning Spanish football has seen almost three red cards on most matchdays. No other league among Europe’s top five is close to that total.
The Premier League and Ligue 1 have each recorded nine red cards after six rounds, an average of 1.5 per round. The Bundesliga has had five dismissals in five rounds, while Serie A has also recorded five after six rounds, giving Italy’s top flight the lowest average at 0.83.
The gap becomes even clearer when the figures are measured against matches played. LaLiga has completed 78 matches, with Levante v Athletic Club and Rayo Vallecano v Athletic Club still to be played, and has averaged 0.29 red cards per game.
France has recorded 0.16 red cards per match across 54 games, while the Premier League stands at 0.15 after 60 matches. The Bundesliga’s rate is 0.11 from 45 games, with Serie A lowest at 0.08.
VAR influence
Of LaLiga’s 23 dismissals, eight were shown directly by the referee without VAR intervention. Five resulted from a player receiving two yellow cards, while four followed a VAR review. In a further six cases, VAR overturned an initial yellow card and replaced it with a red.
That means VAR played a role in 10 of the dismissals, compared with eight red cards awarded directly by the referee on the pitch.
Deportivo La Coruna, Getafe, Sevilla and Real Sociedad lead the disciplinary table with three red cards each. Real Madrid and Rayo Vallecano have received two apiece.
Celta de Vigo, Espanyol, Athletic Club, Elche, Atletico Madrid, Racing Santander and Deportivo Alaves have each had one player sent off. Barcelona, Real Betis, Villarreal and Valencia are among the teams yet to receive a red card.
Only two of the 23 dismissals came for protesting or similar behaviour. Rayo Vallecano’s De Frutos was sent off away to Racing Santander and later appealed a two-match suspension, arguing that he had kicked a water cooler. The incident was not included in the referee’s report and was not visible in television footage.
Real Sociedad forward Oskar Sævarsson was also dismissed against Valencia after receiving two yellow cards within a minute for disputing a decision by referee Munuera Montero.
Disputed decisions
Isaac Romero’s dismissal in Levante v Sevilla was another contentious incident. After scoring to reduce the deficit to 3-2, the Sevilla forward made a “quieting” gesture towards the stands and was shown a second yellow card. Objects were then thrown, while referee Cordero Vega stated that the gesture was the reason for the dismissal.
Yuri was sent off in the 11th minute of Athletic Club’s match against Sevilla after an initial decision by referee Soto Grado.
The Referees’ Technical Committee (CTA) later described the incident through its “review time” process as a “clear and significant on-field referee error” and said VAR should have intervened. The Appeals Committee nevertheless upheld the sanction, leading Yuri to voice his dissatisfaction publicly.
