Famous Red Cards (1998-2010) Trivia Quiz

Answer: David Beckham

Just two minutes after the halftime interval, with the score poised at 2-2, David Beckham would conduct himself in a manner that would see him sent off and blamed by many England supporters for the country's defeat to Argentina, after a nail-biting penalty shootout. Diego Simeone fouled David Beckham and picked up a yellow card but Beckham, whilst on the floor, kicked out at Simeone and got sent off.

At the time, some commentators felt that the red card was harsh as the kick wasn't that dangerous but a lot more felt that his actions were foolish. The referee, Kim Milton Nielsen, said of the incident in a BBC interview, "The sending off of David Beckham was straightforward. The rules are very clear about kicking or attempting to kick an opponent. Many people today forget that it is a red card offence. Some have said it was only a soft kick, but that does not matter."

Answer: Laurent Blanc

This showed all the inadequacies of the sport, in particular, diving. By simulation (holding his face as if punched despite only being nudged in the upper chest), Slaven Bilic had convinced the referee that Laurent Blanc had struck him in the face. This led to Blanc being sent off in the semi-final match and having to heart-breakingly miss out on playing in the final of the 1998 World Cup, which France would go on to win on home soil. FIFA, the governing body of soccer, would not intervene to scrap the suspension despite having clear video evidence.

Answer: Yes

The goal that Ronaldinho scored just minutes before he was sent off was enough to take Brazil through to the semi-finals. Ronaldinho was given a red card for an illegal tackle made against Danny Mills, a defender for England. Despite the red card and Ronaldinho's semi-final suspension, Brazil would go on to win the 2002 FIFA World Cup where they beat Germany in the final.

Answer: He showed the same player three yellow cards

Graham Poll showed three yellow cards before sending off Croatia's Josip Simunic. Commentary teams and viewers from around the world got a bit confused when Simunic wasn't sent off after receiving his second yellow card. He would be sent off shortly after for his third yellow card offence.

The error cost Poll his place at the World Cup, and he resigned from refereeing international football.

Answer: 4

In what would come to be known as the "Battle of Nuremberg", Russian referee Valentin Ivanov produced 16 yellow cards (a record in international matches) and four red cards. The total of 20 cards shown at the match was in itself an international record.

In addition to the four red cards shown, Luis Figo was caught on video head-butting a Dutch player but he escaped a red card. Portugal won the game, 1-0, and would play England in the quarterfinal with Deco and Costinha suspended due to their red cards.

Answer: Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane's incredible career came to an end in disgrace with a red card from Argentinian referee, Horacio Elizondo. The incident was spotted by the fourth official whose main function is to deal with substitutions and to deal with problems on and disputes amongst the benches. The fourth official was Luis Medina Cantalejo from Spain, and he informed the officiating trio on the field about the incident.

In one of the greatest ever sports photographs, Zidane is pictured walking past the World Cup trophy (which his team would not win) as he returned to the dressing room, with his career over.

Answer: Kaka

FIFA does not tend to comment on the performance of their referees at World Cup events, but it could be inferred from the fact that the referee, Stephane Lannoy, didn't officiate another game after that that the governing body deemed the decision to be debatable. The suspension associated with the red card was enforced (FIFA policy), and Kaka would not play in the next game.

Answer: No

Khune would become only the second-ever goalkeeper to be sent off in World Cup history (World Cups have been held since 1930 with red cards introduced in the 1970s). The first goalkeeper to be sent off at the World Cup was Italy's Gianluca Pagliuca in the tournament of 1994 held in the USA.

Answer: Luis Suarez

It is common for strikers to stand by the posts when the team is defending a set piece, and this is exactly what Uruguay's Luis Suarez did. With a few seconds left in the game, there was a goal line scramble which ended in Suarez being sent off for handling the ball. If Suarez hadn't knocked the ball away with his hand, then Ghana would have scored and Uruguay would have been eliminated.

As it was, Suarez took the red card knowing that Ghana would receive a penalty. Ghana's penalty-taker smashed the ball into the crossbar taking the game to penalties.

It was at this point that Uruguay dominated and gained a place in the semi-final.

Answer: England

Englishman Howard Webb, a police officer by trade, was appointed to referee the biggest game in world soccer. The FIFA World Cup final is what most professional referees aspire to, and it is something that a person can only do once. For most it is a memorable occasion for all the right reasons, but in 2010 the final proved to be the hardest game to referee of the 64 played in South Africa. Fourteen yellow cards were given out (most to Holland) and a red card was given to Dutch defender, John Heitinga.

Heitinga thus became the fifth player ever to be sent off in a FIFA World Cup final.