Weirdest Red Cards in Premier League History

Since the formation of the Premier League in 1992, English football fans have witnessed countless dramatic moments. Among the most memorable are those rare and surreal instances when players have been dismissed under the most unusual circumstances. Red cards in the Premier League are significant events that often alter the course of matches, and referees must ensure their decisions are justified in such a fiercely competitive environment.

While VAR has drawn criticism in recent years, its implementation since the 2019/20 season has at least minimised some of the more obvious officiating mistakes. Before its introduction, however, referees had to make instantaneous decisions with only one real-time view of incidents, inevitably leading to occasional errors.

Yet, not every red card on this list results from poor refereeing. Some were completely warranted, but the bizarre nature of the incidents ensures their place in Premier League folklore. Here, EPLNews takes a look at 10 of the strangest red card moments in Premier League history.

10. Eric Cantona – Crystal Palace vs Manchester United (1995)

Referee Alan Wilkie had no real choice but to send off Eric Cantona for a reckless challenge on Richard Shaw during this clash. But it wasn’t the dismissal itself that earned notoriety. Instead, the Manchester United forward’s infamous kung-fu-style kick on a Crystal Palace fan following the red card stunned the footballing world. This moment of madness led to a nine-month suspension from football. Cantona later reflected without regret, telling The Guardian: “My best moment? I have a lot of good moments but the one I prefer is when I kicked the hooligan.”

9. Steven Taylor – Newcastle United vs Aston Villa (2005)

Brought on in the second half, Steven Taylor hoped to positively impact Newcastle United’s match against Aston Villa. However, with Darius Vassell poised to score, Taylor deliberately blocked the shot with his hand inside the area. Attempting to escape punishment, he theatrically pretended the ball had struck his face. While fans may have been fooled, the referee was perfectly placed to spot the blatant handball and duly showed Taylor a red card. Gareth Barry converted the resulting penalty. Remarkably, this was not the most bizarre red card of the match.

8. Steve Cook – Norwich City vs AFC Bournemouth (2020)

HIGHLIGHTS | Norwich City 1-0 AFC Bournemouth | Double Red Card and Teemu Pukki Penalty!

In another example of goal-line handball heroics, Steve Cook produced a goalkeeper-worthy save to deny Norwich City. After Ramsdale parried an initial effort, Ondrej Duda looked certain to score until Cook flung himself at the shot and tipped it wide. Unsurprisingly, he was shown a straight red card. The Canaries went on to win 1-0 as Cook watched from the sidelines.

7. Robin van Persie – Stoke City vs Arsenal (2008)

Trailing 2-0 against Stoke City, Robin van Persie let his frustration boil over. As Thomas Sorensen delayed picking up the ball, van Persie charged into him with his shoulder. Referee Rob Styles dismissed the Dutch striker for his needless aggression. While van Persie was also sent off controversially against Barcelona in the Champions League, this red card was far more straightforward and warranted.

6. Kieran Gibbs – Chelsea vs Arsenal (2014)

One of the most bizarre cases of mistaken identity in Premier League history saw referee Andre Marriner send off Kieran Gibbs for a handball actually committed by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Despite the red card being rescinded later, Arsenal were already being dismantled in a humiliating 6-0 loss to Chelsea. Oxlade-Chamberlain astonishingly didn’t receive his first professional red card until 2023, when he was dismissed while playing for Besiktas.

5. Youssouf Mulumbu – West Ham United vs West Bromwich Albion (2013)

Youssouf Mulumbu’s dismissal during a match against West Ham United remains one of the most avoidable in Premier League history. After being cynically fouled by Gary O’Neill, Mulumbu picked up the ball and launched it at his opponent in a fit of anger. The referee had no hesitation in brandishing a red card, punishing Mulumbu’s moment of petulance.

4. Cesc Fabregas – West Bromwich Albion vs Chelsea (2015)

Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to West Brom featured a bizarre red card for Cesc Fabregas. With the referee addressing players after a foul, Fabregas, standing some 20 yards away, decided to strike Chris Brunt on the head with the ball. Despite the accuracy of his shot, Fabregas was dismissed for his act of stupidity, and Chelsea were forced to play the remaining hour with ten men.

3. Frederic Piquionne – Everton vs West Ham United (2011)

Celebrating with travelling fans usually leads to euphoric scenes, but Frederic Piquionne’s exuberance cost him dearly. After scoring what he believed was the winner against Everton in the 84th minute, he jumped into the away section, earning a second yellow card. Everton later equalised through Marouane Fellaini in stoppage time, turning Piquionne’s joy into despair.

2. Ricardo Fuller – Stoke City vs West Ham United (2008)

Following an equaliser from West Ham, Ricardo Fuller took issue with team-mate and captain Andy Griffin. In an astonishing act, Fuller slapped Griffin across the face during the match, prompting referee Mike Jones to show him a straight red card. Stoke went on to lose 2-1. Fuller later defended his actions, calling Griffin “very rude and disrespectful.”

1.Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer – Newcastle United vs Aston Villa (2005)

Topping the list is an incident so shocking it remains unparalleled in Premier League history. Already reduced to 10 men after Steven Taylor’s earlier dismissal, Newcastle United suffered a further blow when Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer began fighting each other on the pitch. The altercation escalated quickly, with punches thrown and shirts ripped. Referee Barry Knight had no choice but to dismiss both players. Newcastle eventually lost 3-0 and conceded two penalties.

Dyer later reflected on the incident: “I think he hit me four times. The punches didn’t hurt but by the time the fourth punch came in, I thought ‘f*** this’ and launched one back at him.” He added: “I didn’t realise that you could get sent off for fighting your team-mate.”

Conclusion

These red cards, ranging from the outrageous to the downright comedic, illustrate the drama and unpredictability of the Premier League. Whether due to rash decisions, mistaken identity or outright madness, each incident is etched into the league’s colourful history as one of its most bizarre moments.