“The Nightmare”: Football’s Fastest Red Cards in Europe
In the world of football, a red card is often the stuff of nightmares. It means immediate ejection from the match, leaving your team a player down and facing immense pressure. While most red cards result from rough tackles or accumulated yellow cards, some players have entered the history books for their lightning-fast dismissals. Here’s a look at the 10 quickest red cards in the history of Europe’s top five leagues, a compilation that highlights the thin line between glory and disgrace.
1. Keith Gillespie – 0 Seconds (English Premier League)
The most bizarre record in football. In a 2007 match between Sheffield United and Reading, Irish winger Keith Gillespie came on as a substitute but never touched the ball. Before play could resume, he threw an elbow at Stephen Hunt, resulting in an immediate red card.
2. Jean-Clair Todibo – 9 Seconds (French Ligue 1)
French defender Jean-Clair Todibo made unwanted history. In a 2022 match between Nice and Angers, he brought down the opponent’s striker, Abdullah Diao, just nine seconds after the kickoff whistle, denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity and earning an instant red card.
3. Giuseppe Lorenzo – 10 Seconds (Italian Serie A)
In 1990, the Italian Serie A saw one of the strangest starts to a match when Giuseppe Lorenzo lost his cool just 10 seconds into a Bologna vs. Parma game. He struck an opponent off the ball, leading to an inevitable dismissal. To this day, it remains the fastest red card for a starting player in Calcio history.
4. Guido Miliazo – 32 Seconds (Italian Serie A)
Italian midfielder Guido Miliazo had a rare moment in 2015 with Atalanta against Palermo, his former team. He came on as a substitute in the 76th minute but committed a harsh foul just 32 seconds later on Ivaillo Chochev, earning a red card and an immediate exit.
5. Allan Nyom – 37 Seconds (Spanish La Liga)
In the final matches of the 2025-2026 season, Frenchman Allan Nyom was brought on to bolster Getafe’s defense against Real Madrid, but his participation was short-lived. After just 37 seconds, he made a rough tackle on Vinicius Junior, resulting in a red card and leaving everyone in surprise.
6. Dave Kitson – 37 Seconds (English Premier League)
In the 2007-2008 season opener, Manchester United drew goalless with Reading, but the most significant event was the dismissal of striker Dave Kitson 37 seconds after coming on as a substitute. Kitson made a harsh tackle on Patrice Evra, earning an immediate red card, a moment that placed his name in Premier League history, albeit in the wrong way.
7. Steven Gerrard – 38 Seconds (English Premier League)
Liverpool’s legendary captain, Steven Gerrard, experienced an unforgettable moment in his final match against Manchester United in the 2014-2015 season. He came on in the 46th minute, but just 38 seconds later, he stomped on Ander Herrera’s foot after a mutual challenge and was immediately sent off in a shocking scene for the Anfield fans.
8. Moise Kean – 40 Seconds (Italian Serie A)
In one of the most embarrassing moments of Italian striker Moise Kean’s career, he came on as a substitute for Juventus against Roma in 2023, trying to change the score. However, he lasted no more than 40 seconds. He got into a scuffle with defender Gianluca Mancini and kicked him in anger, receiving an immediate red card.
9. Marcel Titsch-Rivero – 43 Seconds (German Bundesliga)
The German Bundesliga is known for its fast pace and fan enthusiasm, but the speed of Marcel Titsch-Rivero’s dismissal exceeded expectations. During the 2010-2011 season, in a match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund, Rivero came on in the 79th minute and was sent off just 43 seconds later after fouling Marcel Schmelzer inside the penalty area.
10. Benjamin Mendy – 47 Seconds (French Ligue 1)
Before his career was tarnished by legal allegations, Frenchman Benjamin Mendy was one of the most prominent talents in Ligue 1 with Marseille. In the 2015-2016 season, he came on as a substitute against Toulouse, but after just 47 seconds, he made a harsh tackle on opponent Jean Daniel Akpa Akpro, resulting in an immediate red card, which made Mendy one of the fastest red card recipients in Ligue 1 history.
These instances highlight how quickly a player’s fortunes can change on the football pitch. One moment of rashness can lead to instant infamy and a place in the record books, albeit for all the wrong reasons.
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